Use the Store’s Map Locator, the “Find a Map” search function on the Store homepage, or the Keyword Search box at the top right of the Store homepage to find the map you need. The online USGS Store is the only site for ordering paper topographic maps. Maps are usually delivered within 24 hours, but might take up to 5 business days. Maps are digitally delivered free of charge. Other options include selecting which map layers to include. The ability to center the map wherever you choose is an exclusive feature of OnDemand Topos. Use the topoBuilder application to request OnDemand Topos, which resemble US Topos and utilize the best available data from The National Map at the time of request. Map Locator in the USGS Store – All dates and all scales of topographic maps prior to 2009, but only the most current version of the US Topo (after 2009).Įach application has an option for toggling on a map index showing an outline of all maps at a specific scale.The National Map Download Client - All dates and all scales of topographic maps.All dates and all scales of topographic maps. topoView - The largest selection of digital options.Use any of these applications to download free digital topographic maps: In 2009, the USGS transitioned from our hand scribed historical topographic maps to US Topos, which are computer-generated on a regular schedule using national databases. Some of the most well-known USGS maps are the 1:24,000-scale topographic maps, also called 7.5-minute quadrangles. Geological Survey (USGS) has been the primary civilian mapping agency of the United States since 1879. Learn more at the topoBuilder landing page.The U.S. These maps are generated upon request using the best available data from The National Map and offer customizations such as choice of format, area of interest, and National Map content. OnDemand Topos are USGS-style topographic maps created using the topoBuilder application. Want the best available National Map data on a custom, on-demand, USGS topographic map?Ĭlick here to learn about topoBuilder and OnDemand Topos.ģ. More information will be shared as we finalize our new production cycles. For example, if your map uses a 10-foot contour interval, you will see contour lines for every 10 feet (3. We call this spacing the contour interval. In order to keep things simple, topographic maps show lines for certain elevations only. Thank you for your patience as we make this adjustment to better meet the needs of our users. The line you see will look like a contour line on a topographic map. By analyzing the shape and spacing of surrounding contour lines, one can make an educated guess about the elevation of a specific point on the map. Areas experiencing significant change since the last published map will be reproduced.Ĭlick here see the most up-to-date US Topo production schedule. Rule 2: Interpolation is used to estimate elevation: When contour lines are spaced apart, interpolation is used to estimate the elevation between them. Nevertheless, maps will continue to be updated and published annually. Topographic contour map are composed of a series of linethat designate the elevation of the land above sea level. US Topo map production is transitioning away from a static 3-year refresh cycle. Please visit US Topo: Maps for America for full details. These are modeled on the legacy 7.5-minute maps, but are mass-produced from GIS databases of The National Map and published as digital documents. US Topo is the current USGS topographic map series for the Nation.

Visit Historical Topographic Maps - Preserving the Past for more information.Ģ. The Historical Topographic Map Collection (HTMC) is the set of scanned images of USGS topographic quadrangle maps originally published as paper documents in the period 1884-2006. USGS topographic maps fall into three primary product categories:ġ.

Contour line topographic map