Maps and atlases

The Geospatial Centre has an extensive collection of maps and atlases. While this collection is too large to be adequately described or indexed on a web page, the links below contain information on the most extensive and widely used maps in our collection. If you are looking for digital maps, please consult our geospatial data resources pages.

If you are looking for a specific map or atlas, or a certain subject area, Primo, our online catalogue, is a good place to start searching.

Some of the historical maps have been scanned and are available online. 

Please note that many of the maps are for library use only.

Topographic maps

• National Topographic System (NTS)
• Ontario Base Maps (OBM)
• Municipal topographic maps
• United States topographic maps
• International map of the world: 1,1,000,000

Thematic maps

• Fire insurance plans
• Ontario Geological Survey (OGS)
• Geological Survey of Canada (GSC)

Archival maps

• Canada1:25.000 National Topographic System (NTS)
• Canada 1:250,000 National Topographic System (NTS)
• Land ownership county maps of Ontario (19th century)
• Maps of Canada (1879 - 1930)
• Standard topographical map 1:250,000 (Chief Geographer's Office Series Maps)
• Standard topographical map 1:500,000 (Chief Geographer's Office Series Maps)

Historical maps (downloadable)

• 1:25,000 National Topographic System (NTS)(downloadable)

• Canada 1:50.000 National Topographic System (NTS)

• Canada 1 inch to 1 mile (1:63,360)

• Canadian road maps (1934 - 1952) (excluding Ontario)

• Maps of the local area (1881 - 1994)

• County and district road maps (1793 - 1976)

• Ontario road maps (1923 - 2005)

• Waterloo Region historical maps (1815 - 1923)

• Historical vegetation (Upper Canada 1784 - 1859)

Folded Road Maps

• Catalogue of Local-International Folded Road Maps