Federal-Aid urban area boundary maps

This volume contains maps of urban area boundaries compiled by the district offices of the Department of Public Works (after 1967 the Department of Transportation) and submitted to the U.S. Public Roads Administration for approval. The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1944 authorized special aid for highways lying within urban areas (defined as incorporated cities or villages of 5000 or more population plus surrounding unincorporated areas which were urbanized). State wishing to obtain this special highway aid had to have maps of the urban areas approved.

The maps in this volume vary in format and content. Some were evidently drafted in the district offices, while others are U.S. Geological Survey 7.5 minute series quadrangle maps modified in the 1970's for use by the New York State Department of Transportation. The latter show all Federal-Aid highways systems: Interstate ('I'), Federal-Aid Primary ('P'), Federal Aid Secondary ('S'), and Federal Aid-Urban ('U'). Older maps show only primary, secondary, and urban routes. Every map, whatever its date, is stamped "approved" by the U.S. Public Roads Administration or Bureau of Public Roads. The maps are arranged alphabetically by urban area name under the D.P.W. (now D.O.T.) district in which an area is located. Earlier maps, showing urban area boundaries that were later revised, have been removed and presumably destroyed.

At the front of the volume are several tables listing all urban areas in the state and giving information on when the maps (originals and revisions) were prepared and approved. These tables serve as an index to the volume.

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.