return to library home
return to buffalo.edu
  • Find Library Material
  • My Accounts
  • Get Help
  • Libraries and Collections
  • About Us
  • Ask A Librarian
Catalog Articles+ Electronic Journals E-Textbooks Course Reserve Databases Forms A-Z Requesting Materials Resources by Subject
My Library Card Delivery+
Help A - Z Research Tips Instructional Services Faculty Support Student Support Alumni & Visitor Support Endnote Software
Architecture & Planning Digital Collections Health Sciences Library Law Library Libraries Annex Lockwood Library Multimedia Collections Music Library Silverman Library Special Collections
Contact Us Hours / Floor Plans Policies & Services Staff Directory Library Administration Events & Workshops Library Exhibits Employment Library Store Support Our Libraries
chatChat textText emailEmail phonePhone inpersonIn Person
 
  star icon About the Map Collection
divider
  star icon Buffalo/WNY Maps
  arrow_icon   Aerial Photographs of WNY
  arrow_icon   Buffalo in Maps
  arrow_icon   Buffalo Topographic Maps
  arrow_icon   Buffalo Neighborhoods Map
  arrow_icon   Olmsted Parks
  arrow_icon   Sanborn Maps
  arrow_icon   UB in Maps & Photos
  arrow_icon   WNY Maps
  arrow_icon   Buffalo Zoning Map
divider
  star icon Map Resources
divider
  star icon Finding Maps
divider
  star icon FAQs
divider
  star icon Support this Collection
 


Home > Libraries & Collections > ASL > Map Collection > Buffalo & WNY Maps > WNY Maps


Western New York
in Maps, Charts, and Images

Map Collection
WNY Maps
Local and Regional Links
Erie County
Niagara County
Towns and Villages
Other Data

WNY Counties: General Resources

Ontario Canada

See also: Buffalo New York Maps

Quick Links: GIS Erie Niagara Ontario Local / Other
Photos Sanborns Topos


UB Map Collection

The UB Map Collection has maps, charts, aerial and satellite photos, and online maps of Western New York, including Erie, Niagara, and other local counties. These maps are in a variety of scales and describe many different aspects of the city and the region.

Most of these maps are located either under a Library of Congress call number, or under the U.S. Government, Superintendent of Documents (SuDocs) numbering system. All of these maps may be located using the BISON the UB Libraries Catalog, and then retrieving the desired map from the map drawer (SEL Room 316 map shows general locations).

Search Tip: When searching BISON you may find listings using the following search tip: Enter a subject search, beginning with erie county n y--maps. The following is an example:

s = erie county n y--maps

This will locate almost all Erie County maps. To locate topographic maps of Buffalo, enter the following:

s = buffalo n y--maps topographic

Among this collection are what are referred to as historical topographic maps. These are older topographic maps (1895-1950) of New York State that are kept in the Map Collection Reference Room. Searching BISON is the same as for regular topographic maps. To see some examples of these maps, view the Historical Topographic Maps of Buffalo page.

You may also perform an advanced search using the "Maps" format to limit your search to only maps and atlases.

If you need further assistance, please contact the UGL/SEL Reference Desk, by calling 645-2947 x 233 or via e-mail askASL@buffalo.edu.

Maps of Western New York (in Map Collection and online databases).
  • Buffalo New York maps. Sister page providing local maps.
  • Aerial Photograph Collection. Included in the UB collection are aerial photographs and satellite imagery coverage of Erie and Niagara counties for the years 1927, 1966, and 1978. In addition, the Map Collection contains a small collection of miscellaneous satellite imagery of United States cities. Contact the UGL/SEL Reference Desk for access. Also has additional links to other aerial collections of the region.
  • Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps. The UB Map Collection has the 1991 edition of the city of Buffalo, on microfilm. The reels are in the Map Collection Reference Room and can be viewed in the Map Collection. Ask the map librarian or a reference librarian for assistance.
  • Digital Sanborn Maps. The Arts & Sciences Libraries also have a subscription to the digital edition (available to the UB community), providing electronic access to Sanborn fire insurance maps of cities and towns in New York State (1867-1970). The maps are valuable tools for urban specialists, social historians, architects, geographers, genealogists, local historians, planners, and environmentalists.
  • New York State topo quadrangle maps: for online access to New York topo quads, see also the New York State Gazetteer & GeoData Collection. This UB Libaries page provides a gazetteer, along with the digital collection of downloadable USGS topographic maps, such as georeferenced Digital Raster Graphics (DRG's). These maps are suitable for both general use and GIS applications.
  • Soil survey of Erie County, New York / United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service ; in cooperation with the Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station. [Washington, D.C.?] : The Service, 1986. These soil surveys are available in print in the following UB locations:
    • SCI/ENGR Book Collection: S591 .A22 N.Y. Erie
    • CAPEN LIBRARIES / Reference: S591 .A22 N.Y. Erie
    • LOCKWOOD LIBRARY / Documents Collection: US A 57.38: Er 4/
    • ARCHITECTURE PLANNING LIBRARY / Book Collection: S599.N7 S55 1986
    • ARCHITECTURE PLANNING LIBRARY / Reserve: S599.N7 S55 1986.
  • Water Resources of Western New York (USGS) .Individual documents by region; choose WNY links for data and maps.
Selection of Virtual Western New York Maps

Holland Land Office map, 1825
Waterfalls in Western New York

Orienteering Maps
Topographic maps used for people who use compass or GPS equipment to practice ground navigation. The following examples were produced for the Buffalo Orienteering Club:

Chestnut Ridge Park
Emery Park
Sardinia County Forest Area.

Local and Regional Links (including State)
  • See also City, Town, Village, and Other Counties Governments
  • Western New York Regional Knowledge Network (RKN). Links to local county, municipal, and other government sites, schools, hospitals, and many other sources. Maps are located throughout the network by topic. Good starting place is:.
    • Buffalo/Western New York reference maps. Maps of: counties, census tract maps, school districts, political districts, other.
  • Buffalo, Erie County, and WNY maps (BuffaloResearch.com, genealogy site ). Variety of maps showing historical views.
  • Empire State Roads. Maps page has Orthophoto Image Mosaics covering quad-matched areas.
  • Upstate N.Y. Roads Site. Similar to ESR above, showing road-related maps and data.
  • Erie Canal Historic maps. Also has current NYS Barge Canal map links.
  • Erie County, 1829 (David Rumsey Collection).
  • Atlas of Erie County, 1880 (F.W. Beers). Online facsimile of copy at the New York Public Library. This is extremely detailed and shows a wealth of data for each town.
  • New York State County Histories. Includes GIS data and other files. (See also: Historical County Boundaries of United States).
  • Erie County Cemetery Maps. Not all links work, but links for the parent pages will help locate maps.
  • Erie County: Towns (Roots.web). Capsule histories of each town in the county. Also links to other counties and states.
  • Gas Wells and Mineral Resources GIS (NYS DEC). Locate gas wells, mines, related data for sites and regions throughout the state. Search by address and zip, or zoom/move to area. Each well's identification data can be obtained using the "Identify" function. Maps may be printed.
  • Geographical Information Systems for WNY (GIS--including Erie and Niagara Counties).
  • Mordecai M. Noah and the Mormon Zion. In the 1800s, Grand Island was considered as the site of the "new" Israel. This is a history of the attempt to establish a World Jewish State in WNY.
  • New York State maps. Official NYS website.
  • New York State Historic Sites Bureau - Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
  • County Highways
    • Erie County Highways (Empire State Roads.com). Lists county roads by name/number. Useful for GPS users.
    • List of county routes in Erie County, New York. Has simple maps. Listing of almost 600 CRs.
    • New York State Parks Map and Regional Information
  • New York State Thruway Authority. Maps and information.
  • Niagara Falls Bridge Commission. Maps of the bridges along the border, travel and import/export information.
  • Road Maps (NYS Tourism site)
    • Greater Niagara region (Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, Wyoming counties)
      • Buffalo-Niagara Falls Metropolitan region
    • Chautauqua-Allegheny region (Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua counties)
    • All other regions
Erie County Official Sources
  • Erie County Government website
  • Erie County Maps & Aerial Photographs
    • Erie County Aerial Photographs. 1920 and 1951 collections. Also a page of 1920 miscellaneous photos. See also: UB Map Collection, Aerial Photographs.
  • Fire Departments in Erie County (Official County site).
  • GIS Link to Erie County sites
  • Office of Geographic Information Services. Has GIS data on Erie County (go straight to Erie Co GIS). Includes links to consortium cities and towns (see Citiy, Town, and Village Governments), as well as to regional, national, and international geo-data sites.
  • Radon Map of Erie County (Erie County Office for Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)). Map is part of the Radon Awareness Program. Also has a New York State Radon Map. View a facsimile of the 2000 Radon Map for Erie County.

Other Resources

  • List of county routes in Erie County, New York, See: County Highways
  • Wikipedia entry for Erie County
Niagara County Official Sources
  • Niagara County Official Website.
  • Niagara Falls Guidebooks from the 19th Century. Scanned facsimiles of guidebooks from 1840-1915 in the Niagara University Library.
  • GIS Link to Niagara County site.
  • Niagara Falls Bridge Commission. Covers entire Niagara River bridge system. With Crossing Traffic Status and links to all government agencies related with US-Canada crossing.
  • For aerial photographs, see the UB Map Collection, Aerial Photographs page.

Other Resources

  • Local History Collection (Niagara Falls (N.Y.) Public Library). Maps, cadastral plans, other cartographic materials; emphasis on Niagara Falls (city) and area. Dates from mid-19th century on. Also in collection are books, vertical files, and other materials.
  • Niagara Falls City School District. No maps.
  • Niagara Falls City Schools. Commercial site has map, data, statistics for each school.
  • Wikipedia entry for Niagara County.
City, Town, Village, and Other Counties Governments

Maps

  • Akron, NY.
  • Amherst (Official town site). Amherst GIS.
    • Digital Maps. Includes: Base map, road map, floodplain, 1909 historical maps.
    • Additional Amherst maps (and some Clarence maps)
  • Amherst Bike Paths (Town of Amherst). Map of bicycle routes with mileage and other data. Includes paths near UB, including an Inter-Campus route.
  • Clarence Zoning Map 2000; Future Land Use 2000 map.
  • North Tonawanda.
    • City Street Map
    • Other maps
GIS Sites

Most of these sites are part of the Erie County consortial system, and use the Map Machine to provide mapping of their respective towns and show layers for: map/satellite imagery, soil, water, land use, parcels, zoning, other data. (See also: What is GIS?)

Erie and Niagara County GIS

  • Erie County Internet Mapping System (ECIMS). Designed to provide access to the most popular layers of digital maps in the Erie County's Geographic Information System (GIS). Through this interactive system, users can create and print their own maps, and locate information, on a variety of subjects. Property parcels, roads, parks, schools districts, and environmental data are examples of the types of maps included in the Internet Mapping System.
  • Erie County Soil & Water Conservation District GIS. Also provides a variety of data layers, including soil types, flood plains, land use, and land parcels (by lot).
  • NYS Clearinghouse Data for Erie County.
  • Soil Surveys (USDA). Locate Buffalo, NY soil surveys using this online system.
  • Preliminary FEMA Flood Maps. Includes layers showing: land parcels, flood plains, etc
  • Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service. GIS real-time data of WNY stream flows.

Cities and Towns GIS

  • Amherst GIS (Town website). Includes maps for Williamsville, NY.
  • Boston
  • Buffalo now uses: Erie County Internet Mapping System
  • Eden
  • Grand Island (temporarily unavailable)
  • Tonawanda.

Thematic GIS

  • Preliminary FEMA Flood Maps. Includes layers showing: land parcels, flood plains, etc.
  • WNY Stormwater Coalition Outfall Locator. Erie and Niagara Counties.

Niagara County GIS

  • Niagara County GIS (hosted by Erie County).
  • City of Lockport GIS
  • NYS Clearinghouse Data for Niagara County
 
GIS Sites Outside Erie and Niagara Counties
  • GIS and Information Services
  • Cattaraugus County Interactive Maps. Maps and GIS available, including:
    • Parcel; Board of Elections; Mosquito Spraying; Tourism; Cemetery
    • Various Maps of Cattaraugus County. Prepared maps on various topics, also custom-map functions available. Variety includes maps of local sites and themes (e.g., Amish country, mosquitoe prevention efforts), and maps, such as the Interactive Cemetery Research Map.
  • Chautauqua County Geographic Information Services.
  • Community GIS. Villages and towns in the Southern Tier (Chatauqua, Cattaraugus, Allegany Counties) GIS sites. Includes villages and towns of: Allegany, Busti, Cattaraugus, Cuba, Delevan, East Randolph, Ellicott, Franklinville, Gowanda, Hume, Limestone, New Albion, Perrysburg, Portville, Randolph, South Dayton, and Wellsville.
  • Genesee County GIS.
  • Monroe County GIS. Monroe County, including Rochester. Also has pdfs of main towns in the county. Example: Henrietta, NY. Other thematic maps include agriculture, fire, emergency, flood, land use, soils, population, etc.
  • New York State County GIS Sites. List of official county government GIS. Counties are being added as they come online.

GIS Sites in Ontario

  • Niagara Falls, Ontario GIS. (City of Niagara Falls). GIS covering the city proper, and township (down to Fort Erie line). Also on Maps page, zoning GIS, and various support systems maps.
  • Ontario Basic Mapping. GIS for entire province.
Other Sources of Data
  • New York State GIS Clearinghouse. The place to go for NYS data and related resources. Includes links to: Who's Who for GIS in Erie and Niagara Counties.
  • Historical Collections of the Great Lakes Great Lakes (Bowling Green State University Libraries). Catalog and inventory, with finding guides and collection summaries. Collection contains Archival materials and manuscripts, photos and drawings,
  • Western New York 211. Help find health and human services in eight WNY counties (has maps).
  • with reference databases relating to the Great Lakes.There is a specific link to the Historic Maps and Charts collection.

Counties: General Resources

Official government websites, NYS GIS Clearinghouse data (orthoimagery, data sets for GIS, GIS specialists), and links to other Map sites and General data (basic history, demographics, links to further materials).

Cattaraugus

  • Official website / Maps / Create your own interactive maps
  • GIS Clearinghouse Data
  • Cattaraugus Area Historical Society Museum
  • General Data (Wikipedia)

Chautauqua

  • Official website
  • GIS Clearinghouse Data
  • Chautauqua County Historical Society
  • General Data (Wikipedia)

Erie (above)

Genesee

  • Official website
  • GIS Clearinghouse Data
  • Historians and Historical Societies
  • General Data (Wikipedia)

Niagara (above)

Orleans

  • Official website / Maps Search
  • GIS Clearinghouse Data

  • Orleans County Historical Association

  • Wikipedia

Wyoming

  • Official website
  • GIS Clearinghouse Data
  • Orleans County Historical Association
  • General Data (Wikipedia)

Other Maps in WNY Counties

  • Allegany State Park Trails Map
  • Allegheny River Valley Trail
 

Ontario Canada

  • Brock University Map Library. Collection of regional maps and map resources; some maps online. Visit also their Scholars GeoPortal with GIS and map discovery tools for the Niagara Region.
  • Local History Collection (Niagara Falls (Ontario) Public Library). Maps and other cartographic materials available; emphasis on Niagara Falls Ontario and the Niagara Peninsula. Dates from 18th century on.
  • Census of Canada Mapping (Brock University). Includes Niagara region maps and other.
  • Ontario Counties, 1880 Map of. Digitized atlas. Select a county, township, or town and view the facsimile map.
  • See also: GIS Sites in Ontario.


Guide Author: David J. Bertuca

Last Update: 1 April 2013

 



Return to the homepage
Site Search  |  Terms of Use  |   UB Privacy Policy  |  Accessibility
  • rss
  • facebook
  • youtube
  • twitter