Central Intelligence Agency
CIA and more at the University of Texas at Austin
Very large selection of scanned maps of all regions of the world, large selection of maps of U.S. and foreign cities, and over 300 U.S. maps including maps of national parks, monuments, and historic sites courtesy of the map library at the University of Texas at Austin. Also includes links to sites for creation of maps of specific areas and for determining driving itineraries, maps, cultural geography, weather, etc. Well organized.
CIA maps from the CIA
Download PDFs or JPGs of CIA page-sized maps. Does not include the historical depth of collection from UT-Austin.
CIA Publications
Maps and more for free download.
CIA World Factbook
Includes information on countries of the world. The content of this site focuses on current statistical data with emphasis on economy, government, transportation, geography, and social environment. Also included are appendices and general reference maps.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Online Chart Viewer
Includes charts of US coastlines and continents.
U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Aeronatical and nautical charts
General information including a “Mapfinder.”
NOAA Maptech
Cooperative development agreement to make charts web-viewable.
NOAA National Ocean Service
“The nation’s principal advocate for coastal and ocean stewardship” and producer of domestic waters navigation aids.
NOAA Nautical Chart User’s Manual
Basic information about nautical chart construction and interpretation. PDF files.
NOAA Weather
General information plus links to weather reports and forecasts.
National Weather Service
“The sole United States OFFICIAL voice for issuing warnings during life-threatening weather situations.”
NOAA Weather Radio
Check under “Station Listing and Coverage” for transmitter signal reception maps.
NOAA National Climatic Data Center
Self-advertised as the “World’s Largest Archive of Weather Data.”
NOAA Satellites
General information on NOAA’s satellite program; includes some viewable images.
NOAA National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC)
National repository for geophysical data; works with the World Data Center and other international programs to acquire data.
National Atlas of the United States
National Atlas of the United States — 1970
Scanned maps and text from the 1970 print National Atlas. Part of the Library of Congress’ American Memory site. Allows zooming and panning. Also includes images from national atlases of the United States from 1870, 1880, and 1890.
United States National Map — Small-scale Collection
Includes maps and downloadable data describing the United States. Replaced nationalatlas.gov.
Geological Survey
USGS Tapestry of Time and Terrain
Geologic map draped over terrain model.
United States Geological Survey
“The USGS is a science organization that provides impartial information on the health of our ecosystems and environment, the natural hazards that threaten us, the natural resources we rely on, the impacts of climate and land-use change, and the core science systems that help us provide timely, relevant, and useable information.”
USGS Online Store
Search for and order products from USGS and other federal agencies.
USGS Publication Warehouse
Access to over 100,000 USGS publications.
New Publications of the U.S. Geological Survey
Monthly listing of publications from all divisions.
Ask USGS
Resource for public information, such as assistance in determining what is available and in ordering maps, images, and data.
EROS Data Center
Facility that houses and distributes imagery and remotely-sensed data, including satellite data, plus digital cartographic data from the NMD; includes data query systems.
TerraServer
Originally a cooperative development agreement to make high-resolution satellite imagery available through the web. This is a busy site; response time may be slow.
The National Map
Report of a study done by USGS as the foundation for developing “a database of continually maintained basic spatial data for the United States and its territories that would serve as the Nations topographic map for the 21st century.”
National Geologic Map Database
Searchable catalog of geologic maps going far beyond USGS publications.
Department of Agriculture
National Resources Conservation Service Data, Maps, and Analysis
Includes links to watershed boundary data, environmental easement boundaries, economic data and analysis, and the National Resources Inventory. (Only the 1997 report is online, however.)
National Geospatial Management Center
Geospatial and watershed datasets among other resources.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Aerial Photography Field Office
A collection of more than 10 million aerial photographs available for purchase. Visit the local Farm Services Agency office, call, or e-mail (sales@apfo.usda.gov) for assistance in determining which photographs will fill your needs.
United States Forest Service
Information about map purchases and other data and publications.
Bureau of the Census
Bureau of the Census
Top-level page includes “State & County Quick Facts” which will display a map of any state with county boundaries and names.
Geography Program
Explanation of use of geography by Census Bureau and links to interactive maps and geospatial data for legal and statistical boundaries.
TIGERweb
Visualization and download of TIGER data
Statistical Abstract of the United States
Scanned version of the venerable print publication, 1878-2012.
US Bureau of the Census American Factfinder
Quick statistics and population data; download Census geography in print digital format from Geography section.
Post Office and Zip Codes
United States Postal Service
No maps but does include a zip code finder.
Western Economic Research (W.E.R.)
Commercially produced zip code maps.
Department of Defense
National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA)
“This catalog contains product descriptions and availability for NIMA produced topographic maps and publications.
Bureau of Land Management
U.S. Bureau of Land Management
BLM is highly decentralized; using this set of web pages may take time. Try the browse button for a good overview of the site.
Official Federal Land Patent Records Site
Information about Federal land conveyance records for the Public Land States. Includes searchable database and web-viewable images of scanned, original land patents.
Geographic Coordinate Data Base (GCDB)
Geographic information representing the Public Land Survey System (PLSS) of the United States computed from BLM survey records (official plats and field notes), local survey records, and geodetic control information.
Location Guide to GLO Survey Plats
A list of organizations, with contact information, that own Government Land Office survey plats, including the formats they are in. Compiled by the Illinois State Library’s Map Department.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Geospatial Services
Includes access to free, downloadable data along with links to information about metadata and GIS.
Library of Congress and National Archives
LOC Scanned Items
More than 300 collections scanned and available through the web including Collections with Maps.
LOC Geography and Map Division
LOC Country Studies
A continuing series of books prepared by the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress under the Country Studies/Area Handbook Program sponsored by the Department of the Army. Most books in the series deal with a particular foreign country, describing and analyzing its political, economic, social, and national security systems and institutions, and examining the interrelationships of those systems and the ways they are shaped by cultural factors.
Maps at The National Archives
Includes both U.S. and world maps.
Board on Geographic Names
The Board on Geographic Names
BGN approves names for official US Federal government use in publications and in conducting government business.
GeoNet Names Server
Non-US place names, excluding Antarctica. Names approved by BGN Foreign Names Committee.
Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)
US place names. Database maintained at USGS of names and approved by BGN Domestic Names Committee. Also includes links to other place name resources.
Federal Geographic Data Committee
Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC)
An interagency committee of 17 federal agencies that coordinates the development of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure including the formulation policies, standards, and procedures.
National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI)
Administrative background including text of Executive Order 12906, “Coordinating Geographic Data Acquisition and Access: The National Spatial Data Infrastructure,” from April 1994 which led to the formation of the FGDC.
FGDC Metadata
Includes links to the FGDC metadata standard and tools for use including a pretty good workbook.
GeoPlatform.gov
Search for Federal geospatial data from multiple agencies.
Fish and Wildlife Service
National Wetlands Inventory (NWI)
Information on the characteristics, extent, and status of the nations wetlands and deep water habitats. Includes downloadable data, purchasing information, and interactive wetlands mapper.
Environmental Conservation Online System
Mapping capabilities under “Spatial Query.”
National Park Service
Data and Research in the National Parks
Includes links to National Park Service maps, downloadable data, scanned aerial photography, information about NPS GIS applications, and other GIS related links.
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Bureau of Indian Affairs Geospatial Resource Center
Department of State
U.S. Department of State Background Notes
Country information from the Department of State including human and physical geography, economy, government, history, etc.
Background Notes
Pre-January 2001 archives files.
Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
See list of FHWA Web Sites for links to national road closure information, scenic byways information, and links to state departments of transportation.
Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Includes “The Journal of Transportation and Statistics” and searchable statistical databases.
FAA Air Traffic Control System Command Center
Check to see if the weather is affecting your flight.
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Flood Map Service Center
Search for and download flood hazard maps.
Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Protection Agency
Select “Your Community” from the left frame to generate lists and maps of regulated sites and to see descriptions of local watersheds or the daily forecast of the ultraviolet index.
Surf Your Watershed
Look for a watershed by name, zip code, or by clicking on a map. Includes “Enviromapper” and interactive maps.
National Air and Space Administration (NASA)
Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center
Download data, view images.
NASA Image Galleries
Photos and videos of the Earth and beyond.