US Topo: Maps for America (2024)

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US TOPO PROGRAM UPDATE:

US Topo map production is transitioning away from a static 3-year refresh cycle. Nevertheless, maps will continue to be updated and published annually. Areas experiencing significant change since the last published map will be reproduced.Click here see the most up-to-date US Topo production schedule.

Thank you for your patience as we make this adjustment to better meet the needs of our users. More information will be shared as we finalize our new production cycles.Want the best available National Map data on a custom, on-demand, USGS topographic map?Click here to learn about topoBuilder and OnDemand Topos.

Topographic Maps for the Nation

US Topo maps are produced by the National Geospatial Program of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). First launched in 2009, US Topos combine the familiar look and feel of legacy paper USGS topographic maps with technological advances of the 21^st century.

US Topo map data is derived from the geographic information system (GIS) data of The National Map and is continuously updated via National, state, local, and commercial partnerships. Current and historic USGS topographic maps are available for immediate download from The National Map Downloader. Please note that not all features on historical maps appear on US Topos.

Characteristics Common to US Topo and Traditional USGS Topographic Maps

• Same extents as the popular 7.5-minute, 1:24,000-scale* quadrangle maps released 1947 - 2006 ^{*scale varies in Alaska & Puerto Rico}
• Standardized layout of map collar and traditional reference system (latitude/longitude & U.S. National Grid)
• Portrays both natural and human-made features within the themes of elevation, hydrography, place names, transportation, boundaries, structures, & land cover

Unique Characteristics of US Topo Maps

Content & Currency

• Consistent and complete coverage of the Nation, including Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Alaska (completed 2021)
• 3-year production cycle for the 48 conterminous states, Hawaii, & Puerto Rico (Alaska US Topo refresh driven by elevation and hydrography data updates)
• Shaded relief (derived from 3DEP elevation data where available) and high-resolution color imagery
• All maps are georeferenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83) or to the World Geodetic System of 1984 (WGS 84) andprojected to the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) projection and coordinate system.
• Continuous enrichment of map content and cartography

Usability & Accessibility

• Published as digital documents, enabling faster, wider distribution of products viafree & immediate downloads
• Viewable and printable using Adobe Reader or other free PDF applications
• Geospatial PDF format enables basic GIS functionality, such as displaying coordinates, distance or area measurement, and georeferenced mark-up
• Layered PDF allows users to turn each data layer on or off to support a variety of map views and purposes
• Accompanied by a symbol sheetand FGDC-compliant metadata