SANBORN
INSURANCE MAPS Founded in 1867, the Sanborn Map Company has issued and periodically updated detailed plans of some 12,000 American towns and cities. Originally designed for risk assessment, Sanborn maps contain detailed information about urban structures, including shape, size, construction materials, occupancy, function, location of lot lines, land use, etc. As such, the Sanborn collection may be the most important record for in-depth study of urban growth and development in the United States.
There are two microfilm sets of Sanborn Insurance Maps, and one on order. In general, each set covers a different interval of time. However, there is considerable overlap due to corrections and updates from one town or city to another.
- Oregon Historical Society, (1879-1955)
- Chadwyck & Healey, (1871-1950)
- University Publications of America, (1912-1978)
Sanborn maps for Oregon and Washington
are kept in the work room on the 5th floor. A collection
of Chadwyck & Healey microform for the states of
Hawaii, Nevada and Alaska are filed in the microfilm
cabinet on the 4th floor.
Last revised:
20 Feb 1998