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Historic Maps of Andover

Map of Andover, MA circa 1880
Andover, c. 1880, courtesy Phillips Academy Archives and Special Collections

Andover Room Map Collection

The Andover Room has a significant collection of single-sheet historical maps depicting Andover, neighboring Merrimack Valley towns and Essex County dating from the seventeenth century through current times. The collection includes a variety of types of maps including political,   zoning,insurance and topographical maps. Researchers interested in understanding the history of geography, the built environment, political districting, open space and other aspects of the history of the Town of Andover will find many useful resources in the library’s map collection.   At this time, Memorial Hall Library’s Andover Room Map Collection is neither cataloged nor digitized. Researchers, should refer to the MHL Map Collection Finding Aid and inquire about using our hard-copy maps at the Reference Desk.

Memorial Hall Library/Andover Room Map Collection Finding Aid

Access to Digitized Andover History Maps in Other Archives and Libraries

Other libraries and archives collect, catalog and host high-resolution digital images of historical maps of the Town of Andover. The Boston Public Library’s Norman B. Levanthal Map & Education Center and The Library of Congress Map Division are two institutions that have committed significant resources to collecting and preserving maps that will be useful to Andover-area researchers. In many cases, these maps are available for download and printing in high-resolution TIFF and JPEG format.  Unless otherwise noted, these maps are in the public domain and have no restriction on use.  In some cases, maps are not available for download or reproduction, in which case researchers must seek permission from the holding institutions for use.  As a matter of courtesy and standard practice, researchers should fully attribute credit to the holding institution of any maps used in their work.  In cases where materials will appear in print, film or video broadcast, researchers should notify holding institutions of their use.

Boston Public Library/ Norman B. Levanthal Map Center Collection

David Rumsey Map Collection

Frederick Law Olmstead National Historic Site Archives

Harvard University Map Collection 

Lawrence Public Library Digital Collections

Library of Congress Maps Division

Massachusetts State Archives

National Archives and Records Administration 

Phillips Academy Archives and Special Collections

Phillips Library of the Peabody Essex Museum

Salem State University Archives and Special Collections

Southern Essex Registry of Deeds

These links are not direct, permanent links to the maps.  From the Southern Essex Registry of Deeds website’s left-hand navigation bar, select SEARCHES>ATLASES

Town of North Andover Clerk’s Office

United States Geological Survey (USGS) Historical Topographic Maps

The USGS has been issuing topographic maps of the Lawrence metropolitan area since 1886, just seven years after the founding of the federal agency.  The USGS Historical Topo Map Viewer linked here: https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/topoview/viewer/#4/40.01/-100.06 provides access to the following high resolution maps for viewing, downloading, printing and overlay applications. Lawrence-area topo maps from the USGS depict significant natural and artifical features of Lawrence, Andover, North Andover, Tewksbury, North Reading and other bordering towns for the following years: 1886, 1888, 1893, 1918, 1943, 1944, 1948, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1961, 1966, 1984, 1987, 1988, 2012, 2015, 2018 and 2021.

University of Minnesota, Special Collections

University of Texas, Special Collections