Historical Indiana Gazetteers and Directories
A gazetteer is a geographical index that can be used in conjunction with a map or atlas. It typically contains place names, physical features, and other statistics about an area. Early gazetteers helped travelers learn about landforms, rivers, roads, and settlements along the way. Below is a chronological list of published gazetteers that include Indiana place names and other descriptions. Later directories include names of local businesses, organizations, and government officials.
1817
The Western gazetteer, or emigrants' directory : Containing a geographical description of the western states and territories of the North American Union. Brown, Samuel R.
Call number: ISLI 917.72 L746i
Online: https://archive.org/details/westerngazetteer00inbrow
Includes counties and some towns in Indiana
1826
The Indiana gazetteer, or, Topographical dictionary, containing a description of the several counties, towns ... &c. in the state of Indiana. Scott, John.
Call number: ISLI 977.2 I385I V. 18 NO. 1
Online: https://archive.org/details/indianagazetteer181scot
Includes general information about businesses, roads. 1954 Reprint of original 1826 edition.
1833
The Indiana gazetteer, or, Topographical dictionary; containing a description of the several counties, towns, villages, settlements, roads, lakes, rivers, creeks, and springs, in the state of Indiana. Scott, John.
Call number: ISLI 910 I385 1833
Online: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/nyp.33433081818084
2nd edition revised, corrected, and enlarged. Includes a list of newspapers
1838
The state of Indiana delineated geographical, historical, statistical & commercial, and a brief view of the internal improvements, geology, education, travelling routes, etc. Colton, J. H. (1838.)
Call number: [Vault] ISLV 917.72 C725s
Online: https://archive.org/details/stateofindianade00colt/
Prepared to accompany Colton’s map; digital copy available: https://indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15078coll8/id/5970/rec/1
1849
The Indiana gazetteer, or Topographical dictionary of the state of Indiana. Chamberlain, E. (1849.)
Call number: ISLI 910 I385 1849
Online: https://archive.org/details/indianagazetteer1849indi
Includes engravings of select buildings, descriptions of towns, geography
1850
Indiana gazetteer,or, Topographical dictionary of the state of Indiana. Chamberlain, E.
Call number: ISLI 910 I385 1850
Online: https://archive.org/details/indianagazettee00unkngoog
1858-59
G.W. Hawes' Indiana state gazetteer and business directory for 1858 and 1859.
Call number: ISLI 910 I385
1st edition (v. 1) Online: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/hvd.32044020327193
1860-61
G.W. Hawes' Indiana state gazetteer and business directory for 1860 and 1861.
Call number: ISLI 910 I385
2nd edition (v. 2)
1862-63
G.W. Hawes' Indiana state gazetteer and business directory for 1862 and 1862.
Call number: ISLI 910 I385 1862-63
3rd edition (no. 3) Online: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/inu.30000080384369
1864-65
Geo. W. Hawes' Indiana State gazetteer, shippers' guide, and business directory for 1864 and 1865.
Call number: ISLI 910 I385 1864-65
1865
Redfield's Indiana lawyers' register and gazetteer and shippers' guide. Redfield, D.A.
Call number: ISLI 910 I385 1865
1866-67
Indiana state gazetteer and shippers' guide, 1866-7. M.V.B. Cowen, compiler.
Call number: ISLI 910 I385 1866-7
Online: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/inu.32000002871822
1866-67
Redfield & Logan's Indianapolis & Cincinnati Railway business guide, and western gazetteer of Indiana and Ohio, 1866-67.
Call number: ISLI 910 I385R
Online: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/osu.32435065700577
1868
Business directory for Indiana. Chandler, H. C. & Co.
Call number: ISLI 910 I385CH
Online: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uiug.30112049809814
1870
Bailey's Indiana directory, 1870-71.
Call number: ISLI 910 I385 1870-1
1879-80Williams' Indiana state directory, 1879-80.
Call number: ISLI 910 I385 1879-80
1880-81
Indiana State gazetteer and business directory. R. L. Polk. v. 1.
Call number: ISLI 910 I385P
part 1 online: https://archive.org/details/indianastategaze11rlpo_0/
part 2 online: https://archive.org/details/indianastategaze12rlpo_0/
1882-83
Indiana State gazetteer and business directory. R. L. Polk. v. 2.
Call number: ISLI 910 I385P
Online: https://archive.org/details/polksindianastat18821883rlpo/
1884-85
Indiana State gazetteer and business directory. R. L. Polk. v. 3.
Call number: ISLI 910 I385P
Online: https://archive.org/details/polksindianastat18841885rlpo/
1887
Indiana State gazetteer and business directory. R. L. Polk. v. 4.
Call number: ISLI 910 I385P
1890
Indiana State gazetteer and business directory. R. L. Polk. v. 5.
Call number: ISLI 910 I385P
1892
Indiana State gazetteer and business directory. R. L. Polk. v. 6.
Call number: ISLI 910 I385P
1895-96
Indiana State gazetteer and business directory. R. L. Polk. v. 7
Call number: ISLI 910 I385P
1902Johnson's business and professional directory of [Indiana].
Call number: ISLI 910 I385J
Online: https://archive.org/details/johnsonsbusiness190203wash
See list at front for cities included
1916-17
Polk's Indiana State gazetteer and business directory.
Call number: ISLI 910 I385P
Part 1 Online: https://archive.org/details/indianastategaze01rlpo/
Part 2 Online: https://archive.org/details/indianastategaze02rlpo/
Part 3 Online: https://archive.org/details/indianastategaze03rlpo/
1928-29
Polk's Indiana State gazetteer and business directory.
Call number: ISLI 910 I385P
Additional Resources
Early Indiana trails and surveys. Wilson, George R. (1919.)
Call number: ISLI 977.2 W748e
Online: https://archive.org/details/earlyindianatrai00wils/
Indiana as seen by early travelers a collection of reprints from books of travel, letters and diaries prior to 1830. Indiana Historical Commission. (1916.)
Call number: ISLI 917.72 L746i
Online: https://archive.org/details/indianaasseenbye00indi/
Indiana Map Collection Resources
https://www.in.gov/library/collections-and-services/indiana/map-collection/
[Created by Indiana Division Librarian, A. Glenn, 2022]
IN MH 11-30-2022