Sanborn Map Company

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The Sanborn Map Company was founded in 1867 with headquarters in New York City. Its purpose was to produce maps that would show "at a glance the character of the fire insurance risks of all buildings" in a give community. Since these maps had a very specialized use, "there were usually fewer than twenty orders for a single map sheet". Consequently, even though Sanborn maps are printed works, their rarity is similar to that of manuscript maps. The Sanborn Map Company ceased making its insurance risk maps in the 1950's, but paste-over correction sheets are still available for many urban areas.

From the description of Detroit insurance maps. (State Archive of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 40662011

Formed in 1876 and was primarily concerned with producing maps for the fire insurance industry.

From the description of Sanborn Map Company, Inc. maps [microform], 1884-1957. (La Crosse Public Library). WorldCat record id: 47635277

The Sanborn Map Company began as the D.A. Sanborn National Insurance Diagram Bureau. D.A. Sanborn, a surveyor from Massachusetts, founded the company in 1867. The company was probably founded in New York City, and it incorporated under the name Sanborn Map and Publishing Company. Sanborn died in 1883. In 1899 the company became Sanborn Perris Map Company, Limited. By this time, most other insurance map publishers had either gone out of business or changed specializations, making Sanborn Perris the industry leader. In 1902, the firm again changed its name to Sanborn Map Company and has held this name to the present day.

From the description of Records, 1884-1969. (University of North Dakota). WorldCat record id: 49059812

Sanborn Map Company of New York produced specialized and detailed fire insurance maps for the use of fire insurance companies and underwriters. It was established by D.A. Sanborn, a surveyor, as the D.A. Sanborn National Insurance Diagram Bureau in 1867. The maps were drawn to show at a glance, by the use of symbol keys, the character of fire insurance risks of residential and commercial property by detailed street sections for cities and towns in the United States. Since the 1950s, the fire insurance maps are no longer widely used by the fire insurance industry, but Sanborn Map Company still produces reprints of unrevised maps and some updated maps.

From the description of Fire insurance maps of Jacksonville, Fla. and St. Petersburg, Fla., ca. 1923-1959. (Florida State Archive). WorldCat record id: 32413072

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Sanborn fire insurance maps were a valuable tool used by insurance companies to estimate the risk of fire in a given area. These maps are generally 50 feet to the inch in scale and show great detail in terms of the construction of buildings and the location of fire hydrants, fire departments stations, etc. Once a map was published, paste-on sheets were used to make corrections and update the maps as new construction occurred.

From the description of Sanborn fire insurance maps. (State Archive of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 40876678

The city of Norfolk was established in 1680. Incorporated as a borough in 1736, it was incorporated as a city in 1845. In 1906 it annexed the adjacent town of Berkeley.

The Sanborn Map Company was founded by D. A. Sanborn, a surveyor from Massachusetts, in 1866. The maps allowed fire insurance underwriters and policy holders to more accurately protect the risks of business even if a building was not able to be inspected in person and to prevent an insurance premium from being set too low or high. Aside from fire insurance companies, the Sanborn Maps are useful to people involved in government, business, engineering, health and sanitation, planning and zoning, public works, tax assessment, education, highway development, public libraries, architects, geographers, environmentalists, water works, banking, mortgages, and life insurance, utilities and many other professional industries. Sanborn Maps also serve as historical documents for cities and towns and are important to those involved in social history, local history, architectural history, genealogy, urban studies, and preservation. The detail provided by the Sanborn Maps about each city in terms of its physical make-up, as well as the infrastructure of each city or town, provides important insights into a locality for professionals of all sorts.

From the guide to the Norfolk (Va.) Sanborn Fire Insurance Company Maps, 1923-1958, (The Library of Virginia)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Fox-Clark business and family papers, 1805-1961, 1805-1855 (bulk). New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Cassell, J. E. Washington, D.C. : vol. 2 / field survey by J.E. Cassell, Jan. 1976. Library of Congress
creatorOf Map and atlas collection, [ca. 1758]-1980. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Sanborn Map Company. Sanborn Map Company fire insurance maps of Arkansas, 1885-1950 [microform]. Arkansas History Commission, Department of Archives and History
creatorOf Map collection, 1842-1949. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Sanborn Map Company. Sanborn fire insurance maps [manuscript], 1886-1929. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Sanborn Map Company. Sanborn Map Company's insurance maps of Boulder, Colorado, 1962 rev. Boulder Public Library
creatorOf Sanborn Map Company. Insurance maps of Auburn, Alabama. Auburn University.
referencedIn Association of South Central Oklahoma Governments. Association of South Central Oklahoma Governments records relating to a building survey of Anadarko, Okla., 1987-1990. Museum of the Great Plains
creatorOf Map collection, 1873-1954. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf University of Missouri--Columbia. Libraries. Special Collections and Rare Books. Sanborn fire insurance maps of Missouri collection. University of Missouri -- Columbia, MU Libraries; University of Missouri; MU; Ellis Library; University of Missouri Columbia
creatorOf Northeastern New Jersey : [map showing municipalities covered by fire insurance maps prepared by Sanborn Map Company]. New Jersey State Library
creatorOf Walter, Kate. Lease and map, 1909-1912. University of Nevada, Reno, Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center
creatorOf Map and atlas collection, 1773-1985. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Nirenstein National Realty Map Company Records., undated, 1909-1983. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
creatorOf Map and atlas collection, 1797-1913. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Map and atlas collection, 1685-1981. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Sanborn Map Company. Shakespeare Company fire insurance maps collection, 1957. Western Michigan University, Dwight B. Waldo Library
referencedIn Street names file, [ca. 1930-1976]. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Sanborn Map Company. Insurance maps of Fargo, North Dakota, 1929-1956. North Dakota State University Library
creatorOf Map and drawing collection, 1798-1979. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Map collection, 1873-1963. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Map and atlas collection / 1783-1978. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Sanborn Map Company. Sanborn Map Company, Inc. maps [microform], 1884-1957. La Crosse Public Library
creatorOf Norfolk (Va.) Sanborn Fire Insurance Company Maps, 1923-1958 Library of Virginia
creatorOf Map and atlas collection, 1625-1986. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Sanborn Map Company. Sanborn Map Company's insurance maps of Boulder, Colorado, 1918. Boulder Public Library
creatorOf Map collection, 1786-1962. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Fisher, Paul. Paul Fisher papers 1894-1982. Museum of the Great Plains
creatorOf Map and atlas collection, 1852-1983. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Sanborn Map Company. Creede, Mineral County, Colorado ; Including Creedmoor or Jimtown, South Creede, Upper Creede, Bachelor City / Sanborn Map Company. Denver Public Library, Central Library
creatorOf Sanborn Map Company. Sanborn Map Company insurance maps [microform], 1883-1950. Kansas State Historical Society
referencedIn Civilian defense collection, 1941-1948. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Map collection, 1778-1972. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Harvard University. Lands records: plans of Cambridge property prepared for insurance purposes by Sanborn Map Co., 1940. Harvard University Archives.
creatorOf Sanborn Map Company. Sanborn Map Company maps [microform], 1950-1970. Kansas State Historical Society
creatorOf Sanborn Map Company. Sanborn fire insurance maps. State Archive of Michigan
creatorOf Map collection, 1768-1976. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Map and atlas collection, 1820-1960. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Map and atlas collection, 1700-1978. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps of Oregon, 1879-1956, 1884-1928 Oregon State University Libraries Special Collections & Archives ResearchCenter
creatorOf Atlantic City Free Public Library. Atlantic City Free Public Library color atlases [microform]. New Jersey State Library
creatorOf Sanborn Map Company. [Sanborn atlas collection] -- 1916-2007. Free Library of Philadelphia, Parkway Central Library
creatorOf Sanborn Map Company. Sanborn map, Hancock, Michigan, 1917. State Archive of Michigan
creatorOf Map collection, 1776-1988. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Map and atlas collection, 1708-1983. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Map collection, 1797-1950. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Map collection, 1884-1975. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Map and atlas collection, [ca. 1650]-1989. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Atlas collection, 1867-1889. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Sanborn Map Company. Detroit insurance maps. State Archive of Michigan
creatorOf Sanborn Map Company. Fire insurance maps of Jacksonville, Fla. and St. Petersburg, Fla., ca. 1923-1959. Florida State Archive
creatorOf Map collection, 1775-1978. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Map collection, 1833-1983. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Map collection, 1845-1978. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Sanborn Map Company. Records, 1884-1969. University of North Dakota, Chester Fritz Library
creatorOf Sanborn Map Company. Insurance maps of Colorado : Aguilar to Center microform, [undated]. Boulder Public Library
creatorOf Sanborn Map Company. Insurance maps of Fargo, North Dakota, 1922. North Dakota State University Library
creatorOf Map and atlas collection, 1777-1982. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Walhalla (S.C.). Clerk/Treasurer. Sanborn map of Walhalla, 1924-1946. South Carolina. Department of Archives and History
referencedIn Petersburg (Va.) Sanborn Fire Insurance Company Maps, 1903 Library of Virginia
creatorOf Maps, 1873-1957. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Washington State Library. Washington State Library's collection of slides of Tacoma's Sanborn maps, 1940-1960. Washington State Library, Office of Secretary of State
creatorOf Map collection, 1779-1983. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Adriance Memorial Library (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Alabama Polytechnic Institute corporateBody
associatedWith Alberene Soapstone Company corporateBody
associatedWith Amityville Historical Society. corporateBody
associatedWith Association of South Central Oklahoma Governments. corporateBody
associatedWith Auburn University corporateBody
associatedWith Beacon Historical Society (Beacon, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Cassell, J. E. person
associatedWith Eastchester Historical Society (Eastchester, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Field Library (Peekskill, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Finkelstein Memorial Library (Spring Valley, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Fisher, Paul. person
associatedWith Free Library of Philadelphia. Map Collection. corporateBody
associatedWith Glen Cove Public Library (Glen Cove, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Great Neck Library (Great Neck, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Greene County Historical Society (Coxsackie, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Hancock (Mich.). City Clerk. corporateBody
associatedWith Harvard University. corporateBody
associatedWith Hempstead Public Library (Hempstead, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Historical Society of Middletown and the Wallkill Precinct (Middletown, Orange County, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Historical Society of the Tarrytowns (Tarrytown, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Howland Public Library (Beacon, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Hudson Area Association Library (Hudson, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Larchmont Historical Society (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition (1905 : Portland, Or.) corporateBody
associatedWith Library of Congress. Geography and Map Division. corporateBody
associatedWith Lindenhurst Historical Society (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Loomis, Kate, person
associatedWith Miller Manual Labor School (Albemarle County, Va.) corporateBody
associatedWith Minisink Valley Historical Society. corporateBody
associatedWith New Rochelle Public Library (New Rochelle, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Nirenstein National Realty Map Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Nyack Library (Nyack, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Onondaga Historical Association. corporateBody
associatedWith Orin G. Libby Manuscript Collection (Chester Fritz Library) corporateBody
associatedWith Patchogue-Medford Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Petersburg (Va.) Circuit Court. corporateBody
associatedWith Potsdam Public Museum (N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Putnam County Historical Society (N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Queens (New York, N.Y.). Topographical Bureau. corporateBody
associatedWith Rye Historical Society. corporateBody
associatedWith Saint Lawrence County Historical Association. corporateBody
associatedWith Smithtown Library. Richard H. Handley Long Island History Room. corporateBody
associatedWith Suffern Village Museum (Suffern, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith University of Virginia corporateBody
associatedWith Valentine, Andrus T., 1899-1983. person
associatedWith Walhalla (S.C.). Clerk/Treasurer. corporateBody
associatedWith Walter, Kate. person
associatedWith Washington State Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Westchester County Historical Society. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Clatskanie (Or.)
Saint Johns (Portland, Or.)
La Crosse (Wis.)
Brownsville (Or.)
Wallowa (Or.)
Antelope (Or.)
Brush (Colo.)
Sumpter (Or.)
Norfolk (Va.)
Arlington (Or.)
Saint Petersburg (Fla.)
Klamath Falls (Or.)
Aurora (Or.)
Joseph (Or.)
Breckenridge (Colo.)
Reedsport (Or.)
Stayton (Or.)
McMinnville (Or.)
Butte Falls (Or.)
Cascade Locks (Or.)
Jefferson (Or.)
Arvada (Colo.)
Boulder (Colo.)
Vale (Or.)
Nelscott (Or.)
Halsey (Or.)
Merrill (Or.)
Lexington (Or.)
Virginia
Springfield (Or.)
Center (Colo.)
Estacada (Or.)
Forest Grove (Or.)
Phoenix (Or.)
Cañon City (Colo.)
Seaside (Or.)
Auburn (Ala.)
Falls City (Or.)
Colorado--Creede
Brighton (Colo.)
North Dakota--Fargo
Oceanlake (Or.)
Prineville (Or.)
Burlington (Colo.)
Adams (Or.)
Condon (Or.)
Shaniko (Or.)
Cornelius (Or.)
Ashland (Or.)
Drain (Or.)
Weston (Or.)
Independence (Or.)
Union (Or.)
Tigard (Or.)
Woodburn (Or.)
Tillamook (Or.)
Vernonia (Or.)
Alma (Colo.)
Sheridan (Or.)
Milton (Or.)
Baker City (Or.)
Florence (Or.)
Island City (Or.)
Elgin (Or.)
Roseburg (Or.)
Chiloquin (Or.)
Calhan (Colo.)
Medford (Or.)
Boulder (Colo.)
Athena (Or.)
Gervais (Or.)
Detroit (Mich.)
Albany (Or.)
Newberg (Or.)
Philomath (Or.)
Canby (Or.)
Saint Helens (Or.)
La Grande (Or.)
Wisconsin
Oregon
Canyon City (Or.)
Bend (Or.)
Sodaville (Or.)
Carbondale (Colo.)
Eugene (Or.)
Helix (Or.)
Hermiston (Or.)
Jacksonville (Fla.)
North Dakota
North Dakota--West Fargo
Yamhill (Or.)
Bay City (Or.)
Eagle Point (Or.)
Huntington (Or.)
North Dakota--Fargo
Moro (Or.)
Nehalem (Or.)
Bristal (Colo.)
Astoria (Or.)
Salem (Or.)
Amity (Or.)
Empire (Or.)
Gladstone (Or.)
Haines (Or.)
Riddle (Or.)
Lakeview (Or.)
Mount Angel (Or.)
Myrtle Creek (Or.)
Delake (Or.)
Dalles (Or.)
Kansas
Barlow (Or.)
Dufur (Or.)
Michigan--Lansing
Aguilar (Colo.)
Alamosa (Colo.)
Rogue River (Or.)
Toledo (Or.)
Multnomah (Portland, Or.)
Alabama--Auburn
Gold Hill (Or.)
Saint Paul (Or.)
Hancock (Mich.)
Banks (Or.)
Corvallis (Or.)
Heppner (Or.)
Coquille (Or.)
Fossil (Or.)
Prairie City (Or.)
Summerville (Or.)
Harrisburg (Or.)
Lansing (Mich.)
Hillsboro (Or.)
Madras (Or.)
Portland (Or.)
Turner (Or.)
Glendale (Or.)
Sherwood (Or.)
Oregon City (Or.)
Aspen (Colo.)
New Pine Creek (Or.)
Scappoose (Or.)
Scio (Or.)
Michigan--Detroit
Gearhart (Or.)
Kansas
Burns (Or.)
Monmouth (Or.)
Silverton (Or.)
Cottage Grove (Or.)
John Day (Or.)
Malin (Or.)
Michigan--Hancock
Pilot Rock (Or.)
Yoncalla (Or.)
Sutherlin (Or.)
Marcola (Or.)
Troutdale (Or.)
Coos Bay (Or.)
Beaverton (Or.)
Mill City (Or.)
Grants Pass (Or.)
Buena Vista (Colo.)
Dallas (Or.)
Junction City (Or.)
Ione (Or.)
Philadelphia Metropolitan Area (Pa.)
Creede (Colo.)
Powers (Or.)
Enterprise (Or.)
Lebanon (Or.)
Charlottesville (Va.)
Milwaukie (Or.)
Oakland (Or.)
Fargo (N.D.)
North Bend (Or.)
Bayfield (Colo.)
Wasco (Or.)
Aurora (Colo.)
Newport (Or.)
Blanca (Colo.)
North Plains (Or.)
Berthoud (Colo.)
Albina (Portland, Or.)
Pendleton (Or.)
Boulder (Colo.)
Cedaredge (Colo.)
Echo (Or.)
Gardiner (Or.)
Fargo (N.D.)
Redmond (Or.)
Gresham (Or.)
Taft (Or.)
Dayton (Or.)
Oakridge (Or.)
Lafayette (Or.)
North Powder (Or.)
Ault (Colo.)
Philadelphia (Pa.)
Akron (Colo.)
Castle Rock (Douglas County, Colo.)
Grass Valley (Or.)
Mosier (Or.)
Ontario (Or.)
Rainier (Or.)
Hubbard (Or.)
Shedd (Or.)
Myrtle Point (Or.)
Oswego (Or.)
Jacksonville (Or.)
Arkansas
Sandy (Or.)
Garibaldi (Or.)
Bandon (Or.)
Antonita (Colo.)
Central Point (Or.)
Branson (Colo.)
Black Hawk (Colo.)
Nyssa (Or.)
West Fargo (N.D.)
Talent (Or.)
Wheeler (Or.)
Monroe (Or.)
Molalla (Or.)
Hood River (Or.)
Subject
Astoria
Bend
Buildings
Business enterprises
Businesses and Corporations
Cartography
Cities and towns
Cities and towns
Cities and towns
City and town life
Corvallis
Dwellings
Eugene
Fire insurance
Fire insurance
Fire insurance
Fire insurance
Fire insurance maps
Fire risk assessment
Home and Family
Industry
Insurance surveys
Land use
Maps
Oregon
Portland
Real property
Real property
Public works
Salem
Occupation
Activity

Corporate Body

Active 1883

Active 1950

Information

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