How To Read Old Plat Maps. A national atlas is a series of maps usually accompanied by textual explanations and targeted at citizens and interested foreign readers. County atlases or plat books contain township maps that show rural landowners.
A site plan package can include: These antique maps and atlases are part of the historic map works, residential genealogy™ historical map collection, the largest digital collection of rare, ancient, old, historical, cadastral and antiquarian maps of its type. Of the approximately 4,000 iowa maps included in both locations of the state historical society of iowa library, the des moines branch has original plat maps created by the territorial land surveyors.
How to access old plats:
For examining, certifying, and recording plats and for recording condominium exhibits larger than 14 inches by 8.5 inches: The maps are arranged by county and indicate the owner of all the farmland in each county. Most surveys found start from around the 1720’s. Key features to look for when reading a subdivision plat or a site plan for a proposed project.