The United States Geological Survey (USGS) formerly maintained a resource that provided cartographic products accessible in digital formats, suitable for local reproduction. These offerings encompassed a range of thematic representations of spatial data covering geographical, geological, biological, and historical information about the United States. An example would be access to base maps or specialized maps showing population density for a particular state, downloadable and capable of being printed for use in education or research.
Such resources were valuable for educators, researchers, and the general public needing readily available cartographic visualizations. The historical context of the service placed it as an early adopter of digital dissemination of government-produced geographical data, playing a role in democratizing access to information and fostering spatial literacy. The benefits included cost-effectiveness for users and efficient distribution of material by the government.
This article will delve into the types of cartographic products that were previously available, explore alternative current resources offering similar capabilities, and discuss the implications of the transition from that specific service to contemporary data access methods.