Learning Center
Geographic Elements
Maps can be used to find an ancestor's home or to locate a town that no longer exists. To access the geographic elements, follow the instructions below:
- Click the Learn tab located at the top of the page. The Learn@Ancestry.com
page will display.
- Click the Learning Center link located in the section links. The
Learning Center page will display.
- Click the Geographic Elements link located in the left navigation
bar. The Maps, Atlases, and Locality Collections page will display.
- Click the geographic area of interest from the following list located
in the left navigation bar:
- Maps, Atlases, and Locality Collections: This section provides
a general discussion on how to use these resources and the best places to
obtain them.
- Migrations and Settlement Patterns: In order to perform effective
genealogical research, it is critical that you understand where your ancestral
family lived and when. This section explains where you can obtain this information.
- County Boundaries and Boundary Changes: Conducting genealogical research in the United States requires an understanding of county and New England town boundaries. Both usually changed several times before stabilizing. This section provides information on publications that will help you determine how boundary lines have changed over the years.