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Old Maps of Essex, Massachusetts for Academic Research

Study the evolution of Essex with 30 high-resolution historic maps. Whether you're teaching, researching, or modeling changes in land use, these maps provide essential visual documentation of urban, environmental, and geographic change.

  • Analyze long-term change: Track patterns in development, transportation, and natural features.
  • Ideal for environmental or urban studies: Support academic projects with primary historical map data.
  • Use in the classroom or lab: Educators and researchers rely on these maps to bring historical context to life.

These maps are a powerful tool for teaching, research, and visualizing how Essex has changed over the decades.

Essex, MA maps

(30)
  1. 1886 Map of Gloucester
    1886 Map of Gloucester
    1886 Gloucester
    1886 Print · USGS
    Cape Ann at the close of the nineteenth century reveals a landscape defined by its deep granite quarries and world-famous fishing fleet. Trace the ancestral footprints of maritime families in Gloucester and Rockport, or locate long-lost stops like West Gloucester Station along the Boston and Maine Railroad.
  4. 1888 Map of Gloucester
    1888 Map of Gloucester
    1888 Gloucester
    1888 Print · USGS
    Cape Ann's maritime landscape at the peak of the Victorian era shows a rugged coast of granite quarries and fishing ports. Trace the early tracks of the Boston and Maine Railroad and locate vanished landmarks like Freshwater Cove Village or the light at Thatchers Island.
  7. 1888 Map of Salem
    1888 Map of Salem
    1888 Salem
    1888 Print · USGS
    The North Shore in the late nineteenth century is captured here in its era of peak rail development. Genealogists and historians can trace family-named sites like Doles Corner and institutions such as Dummer Academy or the Insane Asylum.
  10. 1893 Map of Salem
    1893 Map of Salem
    1893 Salem
    1893 Print · USGS
    Coastal Massachusetts at the end of the nineteenth century reveals a landscape defined by industrial rail lines and ancient marshlands. Genealogists and historians can trace family-named hills and early institutional sites like Dummer Academy, the Insane Asylum, and the Ipswich Light.
    11 unique versions available
  13. 1893 Map of Gloucester
    1893 Map of Gloucester
    1893 Gloucester
    1893 Print · USGS
    Cape Ann's rugged maritime communities were firmly established by the 1890s, centered on the bustling port of Gloucester. Researchers can trace the coastal neighborhoods of Lanesville and Annisquam or locate family landmarks like Freshwater Cove Village and the Boston and Maine Railroad line.
    9 unique versions available
  16. 1917 Map of Salem
    1917 Map of Salem
    1917 Salem
    1917 Print · USGS
    Coastal Massachusetts at the end of the Great War reveals a landscape of maritime commerce and rail-connected villages. Trace the local economy from Salem Harbor to Ipswich Light, or locate historic sites like Dummer Academy and the Insane Asylum.
  19. 1918 Map of Gloucester, 1921 Print
    1918 Map of Gloucester, 1921 Print
    1918 Gloucester
    1921 Print · USGS
    Cape Ann's rugged shoreline and maritime villages are captured here during the first World War. Trace early twentieth-century coastal life through landmarks like Squam Light, the West Gloucester Sta., and family-named points like Wheeler Point.
  22. 1919 Map of Salem
    1919 Map of Salem
    1919 Salem
    1919 Print · USGS
    The North Shore and its rail-connected towns are captured here during the height of the steam era. Genealogists and historians can trace the local landscape through landmarks like Dummer Academy, the Insane Asylum, and the vanished Box Factory.
    2 unique versions available
  25. 1943 Map of Cape Ann
    1943 Map of Cape Ann
    1943 Cape Ann
    1943 Print · USGS
    Coastal Massachusetts and New Hampshire appear here during the wartime era, showing the maritime and rail infrastructure that defined the North Shore. Genealogists can trace family names across Asbury Grove, Merrimacport, and the Boston & Maine RR rail corridor.
  28. 1945 Map of Marblehead North
    1945 Map of Marblehead North
    1945 Marblehead North
    1945 Print · USGS
    The North Shore of Massachusetts during the mid-1940s shows a complex landscape of maritime heritage and rail-connected settlements. Genealogists and local historians can trace the detailed streets of Marblehead and locate landmarks like Central Cemetery and Fort Pickering.
    3 unique versions available
  31. 1945 Map of Ipswich
    1945 Map of Ipswich
    1945 Ipswich
    1945 Print · USGS
    Ipswich and the surrounding Essex County coast are detailed here in the mid-1940s, highlighting a landscape defined by tidal rivers and barrier islands. Genealogists and historians can locate family landmarks such as Heartbreak Hill, the Mount Cem, and the Boston and Maine Railroad corridor.
    3 unique versions available
  34. 1948 Map of Boston
    1948 Map of Boston
    1948 Boston
    1948 Print · USGS
    Eastern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire appear at an industrial peak in the late 1940s, just as suburban growth began to accelerate. Genealogists and historians can trace rail lines like the Boston and Albany RR or locate coastal landmarks like Graves Lighthouse and Fort Devens.
    2 unique versions available
  37. 1950 Map of Ipswich, 1956 Print
    1950 Map of Ipswich, 1956 Print
    1950 Ipswich
    1956 Print · USGS
    Coastal Massachusetts is seen here in the mid-century as a land of expansive salt marshes and historic harbor towns. Genealogists and historians can trace family-named hills and early settlements from Ipswich and Rowley to landmarks like Castle Hill and Nourse Cem.
    3 unique versions available
  40. 1956 Map of Marblehead North, 1959 Print
    1956 Map of Marblehead North, 1959 Print
    1956 Marblehead North
    1959 Print · USGS
    The Massachusetts North Shore flourished in the mid-1950s as classic maritime villages like Manchester and Marblehead met the expansion of the State Route 128 corridor. Genealogists and historians can trace the foundations of local institutions like Endicott Jr College, the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station, and the historic Fort Sewell.
    2 unique versions available
  43. 1956 Map of Boston, 1967 Print
    1956 Map of Boston, 1967 Print
    1956 Boston
    1967 Print · USGS
    The Massachusetts coastline and industrial interior are seen here during the mid-century peak of suburban and highway expansion. Researchers can trace historic harbor defenses like Fort Revere, local landmarks such as Faneuil Hall, and the vast Parker River National Wildlife Refuge.
    6 unique versions available
  46. 1958 Map of Boston
    1958 Map of Boston
    1958 Boston
    1958 Print · USGS
    Eastern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire are shown at the height of the industrial era, before the full expansion of the interstate system. Trace coastal defenses at Fort Warren, historic rail lines like the Boston and Maine, and the development of the Mass. 128 corridor.
    2 unique versions available
  49. 1961 Map of Boston
    1961 Map of Boston
    1961 Boston
    1961 Print · USGS
    The Massachusetts coastline and its industrial interior are detailed here in the mid-twentieth century, from the Monadnock highlands to Cape Cod. Researchers can trace the rail routes of the Boston and Maine or locate landmarks like Fort Devens and the Wachusett Reservoir.
    2 unique versions available
  52. 1966 Map of Ipswich, 1967 Print
    1966 Map of Ipswich, 1967 Print
    1966 Ipswich
    1967 Print · USGS
    The North Shore coast in the mid-sixties reveals a intricate landscape of salt marshes and historic town centers. Researchers can trace the legacy of family estates and religious institutions at Castle Hill, Locust Grove Cem, and the Sacred Heart Juniorate.
    3 unique versions available
  55. 1970 Map of Marblehead North, 1972 Print
    1970 Map of Marblehead North, 1972 Print
    1970 Marblehead North
    1972 Print · USGS
    The North Shore coast and the towns of Marblehead and Beverly are captured here during the early 1970s. Researchers can locate family landmarks such as Central Cemetery, historic sites like Abbot Hall, and the layout of the Boston and Maine railroad.
    2 unique versions available
  58. 1977 Map of Marblehead North, 1980 Print
    1977 Map of Marblehead North, 1980 Print
    1977 Marblehead North
    1980 Print · USGS
    The North Shore coastline in the late seventies is captured here through detailed aerial photography. Genealogists and historians can trace the exact 1977 footprints of coastal settlements from Marblehead and Salem up to Manchester.
  61. 1984 Map of Gloucester
    1984 Map of Gloucester
    1984 Gloucester
    1984 Print · USGS
    Coastal Massachusetts and the New Hampshire borderlands are shown here in the mid-eighties, from the granite shores of Cape Ann to the Merrimack River. Researchers can trace the legacy of maritime trade and higher education at Salem State College or follow the Boston and Maine rail lines through Ipswich and Beverly.
  64. 1984 Map of Gloucester
    1984 Map of Gloucester
    1984 Gloucester
    1984 Print · USGS
    Gloucester and the rocky Cape Ann shoreline are shown in the mid-eighties as the region’s maritime and residential character was firmly established. Researchers can trace historic family burial sites at West Parish Cem, locate the Hammond Museum, and follow the Boston and Maine rail line into the heart of the city.
  67. 1984 Map of Rockport
    1984 Map of Rockport
    1984 Rockport
    1984 Print · USGS
    Cape Ann's rugged Atlantic coastline and granite quarrying history are on full display in this mid-eighties record. Genealogists and historians can trace the Boston and Maine railroad line through Rockport and locate family plots at Beech Grove Cem or Locust Grove Cem.
    2 unique versions available
  70. 1985 Map of Ipswich, 1986 Print
    1985 Map of Ipswich, 1986 Print
    1985 Ipswich
    1986 Print · USGS
    The North Shore of Massachusetts is shown in the mid-eighties as a landscape of ancient coastal towns and protected wetlands. Researchers can trace local heritage at Rowley Burial Ground, explore the grounds of Governor Dummer Academy, or locate the cottages of Asbury Grove.
    3 unique versions available
  73. 1985 Map of Salem, 1986 Print
    1985 Map of Salem, 1986 Print
    1985 Salem
    1986 Print · USGS
    The North Shore coastline in the mid-eighties shows the established urban centers of Salem and Beverly alongside the expanding suburbs of Danvers. Genealogists can locate family sites near Harmony Grove Cemetery or trace landmarks like the Danvers State Hospital and Fort Sewall.
    3 unique versions available
Showing maps 1-25 of 30

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Frequently asked questions

  • What are the different types of historical maps available for Essex?
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