Using Historical Geography to Pinpoint Locations in Your Family’s Past

Identifying the exact location of an ancestor’s residence or the site of a key life event often requires piecing together hidden geographic clues. City directories are obvious, but rural postal routes, censuses, deeds, and land descriptions can all provide those answers as well. Burial grounds, churches, mills, and other local landmarks frequently help narrow down locations, especially when referenced alongside tax records or deeds. Abutters and natural features like watercourses offer additional geographic context, enabling the reconstruction of historical neighborhoods. Once these clues are gathered, modern tools such as GIS, Google Maps, and Google Earth can be used to document and visualize the identified sites with greater precision.

Attendees would benefit from knowing how to access deed records, census records, and a digital map.