I am wanting to make a map that is a compilation of several old maps of my county, dating from 1808 until about 1920. What would be the best way to go about this?

I once had a map of my county, circa 1912. Since that time, I have acquired several old maps, and have found some in books. Even road atlases of a decade or so ago still have some of the names of old communities and their locations.

There are about 120 communities in my area, about ¼ of which are now a part of the city, and all of whose locations are still known, although not all were in existence at the same time.

What I am doing is wanting to compile all of them on one map, along with an index of what map era each are from.

I have learned that it is almost futile to draw a map freehand. And whereas I don’t need a professional, highly detailed map—I do want to include rivers (including small ones), railroads, and roads (the historic ones which are still intact)—in order to show the locations of these features. I am almost convinced that geographical coordinates are the way to go.

But how do I go about drawing such a map? Any recommended software or cartology tools and techniques?