Chicago 17th/18th · Map
How to Cite A Map in Chicago Edition
Chicago Notes & Bibliography asks for fuller repository detail when you cite a map—especially medium, dimensions when known, and the holding institution with city—then a URL if you consulted a digital surrogate. Map citations credit the cartographic agency or platform; interactive basemaps also need a reliable access date.
Image Citation Generator
Chicago Style (Notes & Bibliography)
17th/18th Edition (CMOS 14.235)1. U.S. Geological Survey, Yellowstone National Park topographic map, 2021, Map, USGS National Map, https://apps.nationalmap.gov/viewer/.
💡 "Copy Formatted" copies with HTML styling so pasting into Microsoft Word or Google Docs retains italicized titles and indentation automatically.
Chicago formula for a map
Creator Last Name, First Name. Title of Work. Year. Map, dimensions. Institution, City. URL.
Italics: Italicize titles of artworks and photographs; medium and dimensions stay roman. Year position: After the title, before medium and repository details.
Worked example
In-text citation
(See note 1)
Template: Footnote number after the sentence; shortened subsequent notes.
Figure caption
Figure 1. U.S. Geological Survey, Yellowstone National Park topographic map, 2021. USGS National Map.
Special rules for maps
- Include scale, edition, or sheet number when the map is a formal cartographic product.
- For interactive web maps, cite the map title and the platform that hosts the view.
- If you screenshot a basemap, credit both the basemap provider and any overlay data.
Source of truth: The cartographer or agency (USGS, Ordnance Survey, Google, etc.) that issued the map sheet or digital layer.
Common mistakes
- Citing only “Google Maps” without the place name, URL, or access date.
- Omitting the agency responsible for survey data.
- Treating a decorative illustrated map as a photograph without noting it is a map.
FAQ
How do you cite a map in Chicago?
Build one Chicago reference from creator → date → title → “Map” → host. Then paste the finished string into your reference list; do not leave the format field blank or point to a search-results URL.
What is the in-text citation for a map in Chicago?
Match the creator spelling used in the reference entry and apply Footnote number after the sentence; shortened subsequent notes.. If the map is labeled as a numbered figure in the paper, add that figure number only where your instructor’s Chicago handout allows.
Do I need a figure caption when I include a map in my paper (Chicago)?
Only if you reprint the visual. A mention in prose needs in-text + reference list; a reproduced map also needs a numbered caption so readers can connect the picture on the page to the bibliography entry.
Where should I look for source details for a map?
Start on the object or article page that displays the map, then read the credit line, about panel, or download metadata. Skip aggregator cards and thumbnail feeds—they rarely carry a citable creator or permanent link.
What is a common mistake when citing maps in Chicago?
Students often citing only “Google Maps” without the place name, URL, or access date. Another frequent miss: treating a cropped social share as the publisher of record.
How is citing a map different from citing a generic online photo in Chicago?
A generic photo citation can stop at photographer + site + URL. For maps, you also have to capture include scale, edition, or sheet number when the map is a formal cartographic product. That extra field is what keeps the entry recoverable.