Maps of New York are a very helpful tool when it comes to family history research, especially if you live far away from where your ancestor was living.
Due to the fact that political borders in the United States have often changed over the years, historic maps are important in helping you uncover the precise location of your ancestor’s hometown, just what land they owned, exactly who his or her neighbors were, and much more besides.
Maps of New York are an exceptional source for getting started with your research, given that they give important information and facts quickly about boundaries, rivers, and state borders, and then present them in a clearly understandable format.
The 10 largest cities in New York are New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, Yonkers, Syracuse, Albany, New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, Schenectady, and Utica.
Learn more historical facts about New York counties here.
Interactive Map of New York County Formation History
AniMap Plus 3.0, with the permission of the Goldbug Company
List of Every New York County
Albany County
Established in 1683, Albany County is home to the state capital, Albany. It has a population of approximately 305,000.
Broome County
Founded in 1806, Broome County is located in the southern part of the state and has a population of about 191,000.
Cayuga County
Established in 1799, Cayuga County is situated in the Finger Lakes region and has around 76,000 residents.
Chautauqua County
Founded in 1808, Chautauqua County is located in western New York and has a population of approximately 126,000.
Chemung County
Established in 1836, Chemung County is located in the southern tier of the state and is home to about 83,000 people.
Chenango County
Chenango County was founded in 1798 and is located in central New York. It has a population of around 47,000.
Clinton County
Established in 1788, Clinton County is situated in the northeastern part of the state and has a population of approximately 81,000.
Columbia County
Founded in 1786, Columbia County is located in the Hudson Valley and has about 59,000 residents.
Cortland County
Established in 1808, Cortland County is situated in central New York and has a population of around 47,000.
Delaware County
Founded in 1797, Delaware County is located in the Catskill Mountains and is home to approximately 44,000.
Dutchess County
Dutchess County is located in the Hudson Valley and was established in 1683. It has a population of around 295,000.
Erie County
Erie County was founded in 1821, is located in western New York, and has a population of about 920,000.
Essex County
Established in 1799, Essex County is located in the northeastern part of the state and has a population of approximately 36,000.
Franklin County
Founded in 1808, Franklin County is situated in northern New York and is home to around 50,000 people.
Fulton County
Established in 1838, Fulton County is located in the central part of the state and has a population of about 53,000.
Genesee County
Founded in 1802, Genesee County is located in western New York and has a population of approximately 57,000.
Greene County
Greene County was established in 1800 and is located in the Catskill Mountains. It has around 47,000 residents.
Hamilton County
Founded in 1816, Hamilton County is located in the Adirondack Mountains and has a population of approximately 4,500.
Herkimer County
Established in 1791, Herkimer County is located in central New York and is home to about 61,000 people.
Jefferson County
Founded in 1805, Jefferson County is situated in northern New York and has a population of approximately 110,000.
Kings County (Brooklyn)
Established in 1683, Kings County is located in the New York City borough of Brooklyn and has a population of over 2.5 million.
Lewis County
Lewis County was founded in 1805 and is located in northern New York. It has a population of approximately 26,000.
Livingston County
Established in 1821, Livingston County is situated in western New York and has about 63,000 residents.
Madison County
Founded in 1806, Madison County is located in central New York and is home to approximately 71,000 people.
Monroe County
Monroe County is located in western New York and was established in 1821. It has a population of over 741,000.
Montgomery County
Founded in 1772, Montgomery County is located in the central part of the state and is home to around 49,000 people.
Nassau County
Established in 1899, Nassau County is located on Long Island and has a population of over 1.3 million.
New York County (Manhattan)
New York County is located in the New York City borough of Manhattan and was founded in 1683. It has a population of approximately 1.6 million.
Niagara County
Established in 1808, Niagara County is located in western New York and has a population of around 209,000.
Oneida County
Founded in 1798, Oneida County is located in central New York and has a population of over 229,000.
Onondaga County
Onondaga County was established in 1794 and is located in central New York. It has over 460,000 residents.
Ontario County
Founded in 1789, Ontario County is located in the Finger Lakes region and has a population of approximately 109,000.
Orange County
Established in 1683, Orange County is situated in the Hudson Valley and has a population of over 385,000.
Orleans County
Founded in 1824, Orleans County is located in western New York and is home to around 40,000 people.
Oswego County
Oswego County is located in northern New York and was established in 1816. It has a population of approximately 116,000.
Otsego County
Founded in 1791, Otsego County is located in central New York and has around 59,000 residents.
Putnam County
Established in 1812, Putnam County is located in the Hudson Valley and has a population of approximately 98,000.
Queens County
Queens County was founded in 1683 and is located in the New York City borough of Queens. It has a population of over 2.3 million.
Rensselaer County
Established in 1791, Rensselaer County is located in eastern New York and has a population of around 159,000.
Richmond County (Staten Island)
Founded in 1683, Richmond County is located in the New York City borough of Staten Island and has a population of approximately 476,000.
Rockland County
Established in 1798, Rockland County is situated in the Hudson Valley and has over 328,000 residents.
St. Lawrence County
St. Lawrence County is located in northern New York and was founded in 1802. It is home to approximately 107,000 people.
Saratoga County
Established in 1791, Saratoga County is located in eastern New York and has a population of around 245,000.
Schenectady County
Founded in 1809, Schenectady County is situated in eastern New York and has a population of approximately 156,000.
Schoharie County
Established in 1795, Schoharie County is located in eastern New York and has around 30,000 residents.
Schuyler County
Founded in 1854, Schuyler County is located in the Finger Lakes region and has a population of approximately 17,000.
Seneca County
Seneca County was established in 1804 and is located in the Finger Lakes region. It has a population of around 34,000.
Steuben County
Steuben County is located in western New York and was founded in 1796. It is home to approximately 95,000 people.
Suffolk County
Established in 1683, Suffolk County is located on Long Island and has around 1.4 million residents.
Sullivan County
Founded in 1809, Sullivan County is located in the Catskill Mountains and has a population of around 76,000.
Tioga County
Established in 1791, Tioga County is located in southern New York and has a population of about 48,000.
Tompkins County
Founded in 1817, Tompkins County is situated in central New York and is home to approximately 105,000 people.
Ulster County
Ulster County was established in 1683 and is located in the Hudson Valley. It has a population of around 179,000.
Warren County
Founded in 1813, Warren County is located in eastern New York and has approximately 64,000 residents.
Washington County
Established in 1772, Washington County is located in eastern New York and has a population of around 60,000.
Wayne County
Founded in 1823, Wayne County is located in western New York and has a population of approximately 91,000.
Westchester County
Westchester County is located in the Hudson Valley and was established in 1683. It has a population of over 970,000.
Wyoming County
Founded in 1841, Wyoming County is situated in western New York and is home to around 39,000 people.
Yates County
Established in 1823, Yates County is located in the Finger Lakes region and has around 24,000 residents.
Old Antique Atlases & Maps of New York
David Rumsey Historical Map Collection
- 1776 The Provinces of New York, and New York; with part of Pensilvania
- 1795 Map of New York
- 1804 Atlas Map of New York
- 1814 Atlas Map of New York
- 1822 Geographical, Historical, And Statistical Atlas Map Of New York
- 1827 Map of New York State. (inset) Profile of the Levels of the Grand Erie Canal
- 1836 A New Atlas Map Of New York with its Canals, Roads & distances from Place to Place along the Stage & Steam-boat Routes
- 1845 Map of New York
- 1845 Map of New York and vicinity
- 1845 Atlas Map of New York City
- 1856 map of Connecticut With Portions Of New York & Rhode Island Map
- 1856 Map of New York. (with) two inset maps: Vicinity Of Niagara Falls, … New York Atlas Map
- 1856 Map Of New York And The Adjacent Cities Atlas Map. (with) Continuation Of The City & County Of New York On A Reduced Scale
- 1880 County map of New York state. (with) Buffalo. (with) Rochester. (with) West Troy, Troy. (with) Albany. (with) Harbor and vicinity of New York
- 1880 map of New York City and Brooklyn
New York Map Links
- New York State Park Map (mapofus.org)
- New York Lakes and Rivers Map (mapofus.org)
- New York Map With Cities and Highways (mapofus.org)
- New York Digital Map Library (usgwarchives.net)
- Old Historical Maps of New York (alabamamaps.ua.edu)
- New York Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers (ancestry.com)
- Atlases of New York city (digitalgallery.nypl.org)
- New York Maps – The Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection (lib.utexas.edu)
- U.S., Indexed County Land Ownership Maps, 1860-1918 (ancestry.com)
- American Memory Map Collection: 1500-2004 (memory.loc.gov)
- Old Maps of New York (old-maps.com)
- New York Map Books (amazon.com)