A press release from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources:

 

 

NEW MAP OF OHIO’S ORIGINAL LAND SUBDIVISIONS NOW AVAILABLE FROM OHIO DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

 

COLUMBUS, OH - A new version of the popular map and digital data set that depicts the original land subdivisions of Ohio is now available from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).

 

The map and digital data set should be of interest to many teachers, historians, genealogy enthusiasts, mining and drilling professionals, and surveyors, since it represents the only known digital compilation of original land subdivisions (dating from the time of settlement) for the entire state. It is distributed by the ODNR Division of Geological Survey as both a printed (plot-on-demand), statewide, full-color, wall-size map (scale 1 inch=6 miles), and as a set of geographic information system (GIS) files.

 

Ohio’s land subdivisions are unique among the 50 states and reflect the state’s history from the Treaty of Greenville in 1795 through resolution of the Ohio-Michigan boundary dispute in 1836. Ohio is unique in that no other state has been partitioned by so many different entities.

 

Ohio was the first territory to have lands subdivided by the government and sold off or given to the public. Soon after the end of the Revolutionary War, land in Ohio was sold to assist in paying the national debt or was given to veterans of the Revolutionary War to compensate them for their military service.

 

Ohio lands that were claimed by the State of Virginia were given to veterans as compensation for their Revolutionary War service in the Virginia Militia (Virginia Military Survey lands). Lands claimed by the State of Connecticut were either given to that state’s refugees from the Revolutionary War (the Firelands) or sold to fund public schools in Connecticut (Western Reserve).

 

“This is one of the most interesting historical maps that our division has ever produced,” said Tom Berg, chief of the ODNR Division of Geological Survey. “You can spend many enjoyable hours examining it, and relating it to family and state history.”

 

The new map shows most of the major and minor subdivisions that existed within the state. Smaller subdivision areas, which are not labeled on this printed map, are attributed within the GIS. Peters and Sherman published maps of a similar nature in 1918 and 1922, respectively. These maps did not show all the minor subdivisions, due to the complexity of portraying them via traditional cartographic methods of the time. The Sherman (1922) map has grown to be the standard used by surveyors and historians to view all land subdivisions in the state relative to one another.

 

The ODNR Division of Geological Survey first released a map and GIS of Ohio’s original land subdivisions in 2003. This new version shows all land subdivisions with labels and appears similar to the historic Sherman (1922) map. It is excellent for classroom or office display. The GIS files have a much easier-to-use data structure and have had further refinement of the boundary lines and topology.

 

Color plots of the detailed, wall-size version of the map are $15 (plus tax and handling). Maps will be sent folded unless $1.50 is added for a mailing tube for rolled copies. Copies of the digital data files (including a PDF file for plotting, ArcGIS geodatabase and shape files) for the map, in CD-ROM format, are $25 (plus tax and handling). An accompanying book "Original Ohio Land Subdivisions" (OTS3), published in 1925 is available for $10 (plus tax and handling).

 

To order these publications, please contact the Geologic Records Center at 2045 Morse Road, C-1, Columbus, OH 43229-6693, telephone: 614-265-6576. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Orders may be placed over the telephone using a Visa or MasterCard. Orders will be shipped the same or next business day.

 

http://ohiodnr.com/news/oct06/1004map.htm

 

Sweet!  I have to use the 1922 map occasionally at work when I'm writting legal descriptions for right of way takes.  I'll have to pass along the link to the newer map to my boss!

JohnOSU99 I want your avator!

 

 

 

 

 

Pleeeeeeze

I got my avator from on here.