Skip to Main Content

Map Collections

Herman B Wells Library Map Collections

Indiana Maps

IUB Libraries aggressively collects maps covering the state of Indiana, including purchasing new resources as well as historical. Search for maps in IUCAT.  All users may recommend a map title, contact the librarian at theward@iu.edu.

Many of our historical maps of Indiana have been digitized and are available online at Indiana Historic Maps

Other Historic Resources

Current Indiana Maps

Department of Geography Atlases

In the 1960's-70's the Department of Geography at Indiana University Bloomington published a series of atlases of the state of Indiana. 

Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM)

Flood Insurance Rate Maps are produced by the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Administration. The FEMA Map Service Center provides access to current and historic maps as well as other information. Additionally FEMA provides access to map data for GIS applications, through the National Flood Hazard Layer.

IUB Libraries received the flood maps in print or microfiche for areas in Indiana through the Federal Depository Library Program until the late 1990's. The libraries also received CD-ROM products. 

The most widely distributed flood map product is the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). Flood risk information presented on FIRMs is based on historic, meteorologic, hydrologic, and hydraulic data, as well as open-space conditions, flood control works, and development. To prepare FIRMs that illustrate the extent of flood hazard in a community, FEMA conducts engineering studies referred to as Flood Insurance Studies (FISs). Using information gathered in these studies, FEMA engineers and cartographers delineate Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) on FIRMs. SFHAs are areas subject to inundation by a flood that has a 1-percent or greater chance of being equaled or exceeded during any given year. This type of flood is referred to as a base flood. A base flood has a 26-percent chance of occurring during a 30-year period -- the length of many mortgages. The base flood is a regulatory standard used by Federal agencies, and most states, to administer floodplain management programs, and is also used by the National Flood Insurance Program as the basis for insurance requirements nationwide.

A variety of information can be found on FIRMs, including:

  • Common physical features, such as major highways, secondary roads, lakes, railroads, streams, and other waterways
  • Special Flood Hazard Areas
  • Base (1 percent annual chance) flood elevations or depths
  • Flood insurance risk zones
  • Areas subject to inundation by the 0.2 percent annual chance flood
  • Areas designated as regulatory floodways
  • Undeveloped coastal barriers

Flood Insurance Rate Maps have been issued by three different agencies over the last 30 years: Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Homeland Security (HS).

Monroe County Flood Maps

The following Monroe County, City of Bloomington and Town of Ellettsville Flood Insurance Rate Maps are provided with links for your convenience.

Monroe County * 180444IND0
Monroe County * 1804440007C
Monroe County * 1804440006B
Monroe County * 1804440005B
Monroe County * 1804440004B
Monroe County * 1804440003C
Monroe County * 1804440002B
Monroe County * 1804440001B


City of Bloomington/Monroe County * 180169IND0
City of Bloomington/Monroe County * 1801690040C
City of Bloomington/Monroe County * 1801690035C
City of Bloomington/Monroe County * 1801690025C
City of Bloomington/Monroe County * 1801690020C
City of Bloomington/Monroe County * 1801690010C
City of Bloomington/Monroe County * 1801690005C
Town of Ellettsville * 180170C