Atlases of the Western Hemisphere: A Summary Survey

Summary

This survey updates Ena L. Yonge’s earlier review by cataloguing and describing significant general and thematic atlases of the Western Hemisphere published over the subsequent ten-year period. It compiles 147 volumes, organized by geographic coverage from hemispheric to continental, national, and subnational scales, including atlases of the United States, Canada, and their constituent states and provinces. The descriptive compilation highlights the diversity of atlas production: comprehensive national atlases (e.g., *The National Atlas of the United States*, *The National Atlas of Canada*), regional economic and resource atlases, historical atlases, road and marketing guides, and specialized thematic works covering topics such as climate, vegetation, population, and industry. Key findings reveal a vibrant period of cartographic activity driven by government agencies, university geography departments, and commercial publishers. These atlases serve a wide range of purposes—from academic teaching aids and land-use planning to business decision-making and public education. The survey underscores the atlas’s continuing role as a vital synthesis of spatial information during a decade marked by notable advancements in thematic cartography and multidisciplinary resource documentation.