Maps of Puerto Rico in Ball State University Libraries

Maps in the News: Puerto Rico

The GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) in Bracken Library has a number of maps and other cartographic resources focusing on Puerto Rico available for researchers and travelers. Many of the resources are available in English and Spanish.

Topographic maps of various scales of Puerto Rico produced by the U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Defense Mapping Agency show details and contours of the island. Puerto Rico is also featured on maps of the Caribbean and West Indies. Traveler’s Map of the West Indies published by National Geographic is a colorful map of the islands that is an excellent visual aid that could be displayed by presenters.

The GRMC also has maps of Puerto Rico with specific themes: A soil map of Puerto Rico is available for research, and an historic reconnaissance erosion survey map created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1935 is also part of the Map Collection. Other historic maps include a map showing urban and rural population in 1956 and a road map from 1941. This map could be compared to newer maps to study the island’s development. A hydro-geologic map of Puerto Rico published in Spanish is also available.

Puerto Rico is included in the National Park Service maps of the United States and maps of the national wilderness preservation system. Several maps of the Caribbean National Forest are also available.

Travelers planning a trip to Puerto Rico will find a number of valuable maps of the island. MapEasy’s Guidemap to Puerto Rico is a location map and guidebook in one, and it is waterproof and tear-resistant. The map (shown above) is beautifully illustrated and features a map of Old San Juan. Leeward and Windward Islands Eastern Caribbean Cruise Tour Guide and Hildebrand’s Travel Map are also good choices for tourists.

Atlas of Ground-Water Resources in Puerto Rico and a directory of city maps, including San Juan, are available in the Atlas Collection. The Atlas Collection is on the second floor of Bracken Library on the north side of the GRMC, and items are available for circulation from the GRMC or the main circulation counter.

Maps from the GRMC circulate for two weeks or longer if requested. For more information about any of these resources, please contact the GRMC from Monday through Friday from 7:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. at 765/285-1097.