Guide to Geography Research            

 Reference Sources

The following reference sources provide information relevant to geography topics.  They are available the Hilton M. Briggs Library collection or via the web if indicated.

Map Sources

Atlas Area-Reference/Main Level

Numerous atlas, gazetteer, and map sources are available for use in the Reference Collection.

Chambers World Gazetteer. (Reference G103.5 .C44)
A geographical dictionary of world places listed alphabetically. Includes information on cities, regions, countries, physical features, national parks, and international economic and cultural regions.

The Columbia Gazetteer of the World . (Reference G103.5 .C645)
An alphabetical listing including information on demography, physical geography, political boundaries, agriculture, cultural/historical/archeological points of interest, transportation lines, longitude/latitude/elevation, distances, and official local government place names.

Tooley's Dictionary of Mapmakers. (Reference GA198 .T66)
Provides information on persons associated with the production of maps from the earliest times to the year 1900.

Topographic Map Symbols-USGS

Color pamphlet of map symbols in .pdf file available online.

Statistical Sources

Agricultural Statistics. (Information Desk Doc. A1.47:)

Annual data covers a wide variety of facts on agricultural production, supplies, consumption, facilities, costs, and returns.

Commercial Atlas and Marketing Guide. (Atlas Case G1019 .R3co)
Provides general statistics about cities, trade, manufacturers, population, etc.

County and City Databook. (Information Desk Doc. C3.134:2000)
Detailed tables provide demographic information for states, counties, cities and towns with populations of 2500 or more.

Demographic Yearbook. (Reference HA17 .D4)
Worldwide demographic statistics for countries and cities over 100,000.

Historical Statistics of the United States. (Reference HA 202.H57)

A comprehensive source of statistics from over 1,000 sources regarding United States history.

State and Metropolitan Area Data Book. (Information Desk Doc. C3.134/5:)

Statistical Abstract of the United States. (Information Desk Doc. C3.134:)
Abstracts statistics from the census and other reports to give a broad outline of demographic and economic trends in the United States.

Statistical Yearbook. (Reference HA17 .D4)
A United Nations publication; includes demographic, manufacturing, and other data on countries.

Other Sources

A to Z GIS: An Illustrated Dictionary of Geographic Information Systems. (Reference G 212 .A86 2006)

Companion Encyclopedia of Geography: The Environment and Humankind. (Reference G116 .C645)
This reference focuses on the people and environment theme. It is divided into information on the evolution of the earth, recent changes in the ecosphere, the legacy of changes created during 1939-1946, the macro-environments, and responses to the geographical discipline.

County and City Data Book. (Information Desk C3.134/2: C83/2/)
Provides information on 220 data items for all 3,141 counties in the US including geographic information.

Dictionary of Concepts in Physical Geography. (Reference GB10 .H82)
Provides both definitions and a historical perspective for specialized and technical concepts that are presently being used in research and writing in the discipline of physical geography.

Dictionary of Human Geography. (Reference GF4 .D52)
An encyclopedic guide to the concepts, terms and theories of human geography.

The Encyclopedic Dictionary of Physical Geography. (Reference GB10 .E53)
A dictionary that covers the complete discipline of physical geography including biogeography, climatology, ecology, geomorphology, hydrology, pedology, and the Quaternary.

Geographic Information.  (Reference G116 .J63)

A Guide to Information Sources in the Geographical Sciences. (Reference G116 .G85)
A guide to the literature in the field of geographical sciences.

Guide to U.S. Map Resources. (Reference GA193 .U5 C62)
A comprehensive guide to this nation's map collections and cartographic resources.

Larousse Encyclopedia of World Geography (Reference G115 .L3)

A comprehensive and scholarly encyclopedia of world geography with illustrations.

Longman Dictionary of Geography: Human and Physical. (Reference G63 .B1)
A one-volume reference work that covers the terms commonly used in geographical writing over the past 100 years.

Merriam-Webster's Geographical Dictionary. (Reference G103.5 .W42)
A comprehensive guide in a dictionary format to the places of the world.

Names and Nicknames of Places and Things. (Reference G105 .N36)
An alphabetical listing of place names including historical information.

National Geographic Almanac of Geography. (Reference G 123 .N37 2005)

Social Science Reference Sources. (Reference H61 .V1 L5)
A guide to basic, important reference sources in the social sciences. Chapter Fourteen discusses geographic literature.

Sources of Information in the Social Sciences. (Information Desk H61 .B1)
A guide to basic, important reference sources in the social sciences. Chapter Three discusses geographic literature.

World Databases in Geography and Geology. (Reference G81 .W67)
A directory that aims to map the databases in Geography and Geology.

World Geographical Encyclopedia. (Reference G63 .E5213)
A five-volume reference work including geographical information on Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania including bibliographic listings and an index.

(Numerous atlases are also available in the atlas section of the Reference Collection.)