California Maps

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This entry was originally written by Dwight A. Radford, Thelma Berkey Walsmith, and Nell Sachse Woodard in Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources.

This article is part of the California Family History Research series.

History of California

California Vital Records

Census Records for California

Background Sources for California

California Maps

California Land Records

California Probate Records

California Court Records

California Tax Records

California Cemetery Records

California Church Records

California Military Records

California Periodicals, Newspapers, and Manuscript Collections

California Archives, Libraries, and Societies

California Immigration

California Naturalization

Ethnic Groups of California

California Gold Rush

California County Resources

Map of California

Several books are helpful in researching the evolution of California. Warren A. Beck’s Historical Atlas of California (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1975), available in many libraries, provides a basic map reference at different points in California’s history. William O. Bright’s classic work, 1500 California Place Names: Their Origins and Meaning (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1998), is an excellent resource for place-names and the history behind them.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) website offers topographical maps of California for sale at <www.usgs.gov>. The California USGS office is at Placer Hall, 6000 J St., Sacramento, CA 95819-6129.