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Old Maps of Durham, North Carolina for Academic Research

Study the evolution of Durham with 73 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 Durham has changed over the decades.

Durham, NC maps

(73)
  1. 1943 Map of Durham South
    1943 Map of Durham South
    1943 Durham South
    1943 Print · USGS
    Durham and its southern reaches are captured here in the early 1940s, showing a tobacco-and-rail landscape at its peak. Genealogists and local historians can trace legacy sites like Beechwood Cem, Lowes Grove, and Roger Grove Ch.
    2 unique versions available
  4. 1946 Map of Chapel Hill, 1958 Print
    1946 Map of Chapel Hill, 1958 Print
    1946 Chapel Hill
    1958 Print · USGS
    Mid-century Chapel Hill and Carrboro emerge from the post-war era as significant academic and transit hubs. Researchers can trace the layout of early neighborhoods, local family burials at Cheek Cem, and rural sites like Mason Farm or Horace Williams Airport.
    2 unique versions available
  7. 1947 Map of Chapel Hill
    1947 Map of Chapel Hill
    1947 Chapel Hill
    1947 Print · USGS
    Post-war North Carolina comes into focus through this survey of Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Genealogists and historians can trace family roots through landmarks like Morris Grove Sch, Partin Cem, and the rural settlement at Blackwood.
    2 unique versions available
  10. 1951 Map of Durham South, 1953 Print
    1951 Map of Durham South, 1953 Print
    1951 Durham South
    1953 Print · USGS
    The mid-century landscape south of Durham shows a region on the cusp of modernization as the airport and highway networks began to expand. Genealogists and historians can locate rural landmarks such as Pearsontown, Lowes Grove, and Holland Chapel among the busy rail corridors of the Norfolk Southern.
    3 unique versions available
  13. 1951 Map of Durham North, 1953 Print
    1951 Map of Durham North, 1953 Print
    1951 Durham North
    1953 Print · USGS
    The northern reaches of Durham and Orange Counties are captured here in the early fifties, just as post-war development began to meet the region's agricultural roots. Genealogists can trace family landmarks like the Duke Homestead and rural hubs such as Bahama, Rougemont, and the Orange Factory.
    3 unique versions available
  16. 1953 Map of Raleigh, 1965 Print
    1953 Map of Raleigh, 1965 Print
    1953 Raleigh
    1965 Print · USGS
    Central North Carolina in the early sixties shows a landscape of growing towns and military hubs before the full expansion of the interstate system. Genealogists can trace family footprints across the Piedmont through Wake Forest, Siler City, and the large Fort Bragg Military Reservation.
    4 unique versions available
  19. 1953 Map of Greensboro, 1981 Print
    1953 Map of Greensboro, 1981 Print
    1953 Greensboro
    1981 Print · USGS
    The Piedmont borderlands of North Carolina and Virginia show a landscape defined by new reservoirs and old rail lines. Trace family roots and the changing river geography through Elon College, the John H Kerr Reservoir, and South Boston.
  22. 1954 Map of Greensboro
    1954 Map of Greensboro
    1954 Greensboro
    1954 Print · USGS
    The Piedmont borderlands of North Carolina and Virginia come alive in this mid-fifties study of a region defined by its rivers and rails. Researchers can trace the growing Buggs Island Lake or follow the paths of the Southern Ry and Seaboard Air Line RR through towns like Oxford and Reidsville.
  25. 1954 Map of Raleigh
    1954 Map of Raleigh
    1954 Raleigh
    1954 Print · USGS
    The North Carolina Piedmont and Sandhills are captured in the mid-fifties during a period of steady regional growth. Genealogists and historians can trace the development of towns like Siler City or locate landmarks such as Falls of Neuse and Camp Mackall.
  28. 1962 Map of Greensboro
    1962 Map of Greensboro
    1962 Greensboro
    1962 Print · USGS
    The Piedmont region along the Virginia and North Carolina border comes alive in the early 1960s, showing a landscape defined by industry and new reservoirs. Trace the path of the Virginian RR or explore the early development of Greensboro and Durham.
  31. 1966 Map of Greensboro
    1966 Map of Greensboro
    1966 Greensboro
    1966 Print · USGS
    The North Carolina and Virginia Piedmont thrives during the mid-sixties, showcasing a landscape of textile hubs and expanding river reservoirs. Researchers can trace the rail corridors of the Southern Railway, find local landmarks like Elon College, or locate the extensive Camp Butner Military Reservation.
  34. 1973 Map of Cary, 1975 Print
    1973 Map of Cary, 1975 Print
    1973 Cary
    1975 Print · USGS
    Cary and its neighboring communities are shown during a decade of growth as the Research Triangle region expanded in the early seventies. Genealogists and historians can locate family landmarks such as Hill Crest Cem, Christa Sanctified Holy Ch, and the rural crossing at Morrisville.
    5 unique versions available
  37. 1973 Map of Green Level, 1975 Print
    1973 Map of Green Level, 1975 Print
    1973 Green Level
    1975 Print · USGS
    The North Carolina Piedmont is captured here during the mid-seventies, showing the early stages of Lake B Everett Jordan. Researchers can trace old family landmarks and community hubs like Green Level, Marthas Chapel, and O'Kellys Ch.
    2 unique versions available
  40. 1973 Map of Northeast Durham, 1975 Print
    1973 Map of Northeast Durham, 1975 Print
    1973 Northeast Durham
    1975 Print · USGS
    Northeast of Durham in the early seventies, the landscape was defined by the merging of the Eno and Neuse rivers. Genealogists can trace family names at Oak Grove Memorial Gardens or locate rural landmarks like Gorman, Fairntosh, and Union Chapel.
    4 unique versions available
  43. 1973 Map of Northwest Durham, 1975 Print
    1973 Map of Northwest Durham, 1975 Print
    1973 Northwest Durham
    1975 Print · USGS
    The northern edge of Durham and its rural periphery come into focus as the city’s post-war suburbs push toward the Eno River. Researchers can trace the layout of Duke University or locate family markers at McMannen Cem Ch and Cains Chapel Cem.
    3 unique versions available
  46. 1973 Map of Southwest Durham, 1977 Print
    1973 Map of Southwest Durham, 1977 Print
    1973 Southwest Durham
    1977 Print · USGS
    Durham and its southern suburbs are captured in the early seventies, showcasing a transition from a rail-centered city to an interstate-connected hub. Genealogists and historians can trace institutional roots at Duke University or locate family plots at Maplewood Cemetery and Beechwood Cem.
    4 unique versions available
  49. 1973 Map of Southeast Durham, 1982 Print
    1973 Map of Southeast Durham, 1982 Print
    1973 Southeast Durham
    1982 Print · USGS
    Southeast Durham and the Research Triangle transition from rural communities to a regional hub during the early seventies. Genealogists and researchers can locate family burial sites at Woodlawn Memorial Park and trace early crossroads like Bethesda and Nelson.
    2 unique versions available
  52. 1977 Map of Lake Michie
    1977 Map of Lake Michie
    1977 Lake Michie
    1977 Print · USGS
    The Flat River valley in the late seventies reveals a landscape of growing towns and significant public institutions between Durham and Granville. Researchers can trace the footprints of Bahama and Butner, alongside family landmarks like the Carrington Cem and Ellis Chapel.
    2 unique versions available
  55. 1978 Map of Chapel Hill
    1978 Map of Chapel Hill
    1978 Chapel Hill
    1978 Print · USGS
    The university town of Chapel Hill and Carrboro are shown during their late-seventies expansion. Researchers can locate campus landmarks like Kenan Stadium or trace old rural outposts such as Eubanks and the McDuffie Mem Ch.
    3 unique versions available
  58. 1980 Map of Chapel Hill, 1983 Print
    1980 Map of Chapel Hill, 1983 Print
    1980 Chapel Hill
    1983 Print · USGS
    Chapel Hill at the start of the 1980s is captured in high-resolution aerial imagery, showing the town's expansion into the surrounding Orange County woodlands. Trace the development of the university community near University Lake and the rural reaches of Eubanks.
  61. 1984 Map of Chapel Hill, 1985 Print
    1984 Map of Chapel Hill, 1985 Print
    1984 Chapel Hill
    1985 Print · USGS
    North Carolina’s Piedmont and the northern reaches of the Uwharrie Mountains are captured here in the mid-eighties. Genealogists can trace family roots through rural landmarks like Union Chapel or locate old rail stops along the Seaboard line.
  64. 1984 Map of Raleigh, 1985 Print
    1984 Map of Raleigh, 1985 Print
    1984 Raleigh
    1985 Print · USGS
    The North Carolina Research Triangle is shown during a decade of rapid growth, from the sprawl of Raleigh to the expanding waters of Falls Lake. Genealogists and historians can trace rail lines like the Seaboard Coast Line or locate landmark sites like Dorothea Dix State Hospital and Fuquay-Varina.
  67. 1984 Map of Henderson, 1985 Print
    1984 Map of Henderson, 1985 Print
    1984 Henderson
    1985 Print · USGS
    North Carolina’s northern Piedmont comes into focus in the mid-1980s, centered on the crossroads of Henderson and Oxford. Genealogists and historians can trace the paths of the Southern railroad or locate communities near the Camp Butner National Guard Range and John H. Kerr Reservoir.
  70. 1990 Map of Raleigh, 1991 Print
    1990 Map of Raleigh, 1991 Print
    1990 Raleigh
    1991 Print · USGS
    Greater Raleigh and the Research Triangle entered a period of significant suburban growth during the 1990s. Researchers can trace the development of towns like Fuquay-Varina and Wake Forest or locate landmarks such as the State Prison and Harris Reservoir.
    2 unique versions available
  73. 1991 Map of Henderson
    1991 Map of Henderson
    1991 Henderson
    1991 Print · USGS
    The northern Piedmont and Virginia borderlands come into focus in the early nineties, showing a landscape defined by major reservoirs and growing towns. Trace the rail-and-road connections between Oxford, Henderson, and Durham while exploring the developing shores of Falls Lake.
    2 unique versions available
Showing maps 1-25 of 73

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Frequently asked questions

  • What are the different types of historical maps available for Durham?
  • What is the oldest map of Durham?
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  • Are there historical topographic maps available for Durham?
  • Is there historical aerial imagery available for Durham?
  • Where are historical maps of Durham sourced from?