GIS Research & Map Collection
University Libraries
Cartographic Resources for Political Science and Elections Research in Ball State University Libraries
Maps are an ideal tool for illustrating various information and statistics about elections. The widely‐used “blue states and red states” explanation of states’ party affiliations has become a cultural phrase and was made popular from an election map from the 2000 Presidential election.
Ball State University Libraries houses many maps and atlases about elections—both current and historical. Maps depicting newly‐drawn Congressional districts, presidential election results since 1789, and even local city council districts and precinct boundaries are available in the GIS Research & Map Collection (GRMC). The GRMC also includes maps of administrative divisions of hundreds of cities and countries around the world. United States Census data is available from the GRMC, and there are maps showing historical changes over time. TIGER/Census tract data is available as an electronic resource in the GRMC. Access to more United States Census data is available in the GIS laboratory of the GRMC.
The GRMC also includes the most current maps of country boundaries produced by the Central Intelligence Agency. These report maps are continually updated and can be easily scanned. Maps on File and Historical Maps on File available in the GRMC also show changes in country boundaries over time, as does the large collection of historical atlases in the GRMC and Atlas Collection.
The Atlas Collection on the second floor of Bracken Library houses thousands of atlases, with at least one from nearly every country in the world. Atlases about specific political themes—global development, foreign policy, economics, and forms of government—are also available for research.
ƒAtlas of African‐American History and Politics: from the Slave Trade to Modern Times, E185.S574 1998, Atlas Collection.
ƒAtlas of American Politics, 1960‐2000, G1201.F1A8 2002, Atlas Collection.
ƒAtlas of American Women, G1201.E1S5 1987, Atlas Collection and Reference Collection.
ƒAtlas of Contemporary America: Portrait of a Nation—Politics, Economy, Environment, Ethnic and Religious Diversity, Health Issues, Demographic Patterns, Quality of Life, Crime, Personal Freedoms, G1200.D6 1994, Reference Collection.
ƒAtlas of Global Development: A Visual Guide to the World’s Greatest Challenges , G1021.W672 2007, Atlas Collection.
ƒAtlas of U.S. Foreign Relations: Foreign Relations Machinery, International Organizations, Development Assistance, Trade and Investment, multiple copies, Government Publications.
ƒAtlas of World Affairs, G1035.B6 2007, Atlas Collection.
ƒAtlas of World Development, G1046.E1U5 1994, Atlas Collection.
ƒCensus Atlas of the United States, C3.205/8‐3:29, Government Publications.
ƒChildren’s Atlas of Civilizations: Trace the Rise and Fall of the World’s Great Civilizations, 930 M398CH, Educational Resources Collections.
ƒConcise Historical Atlas of Canada, G1116.S1C66 1998, Atlas Collection.
ƒCongressional District Atlas, 108th Congress of the United States, 2000 (electronic resource), G3701.F7 2004.U55, GRMC.
ƒCongressional Districts of the 110th Congress of the United States, January 2007‐2009 (map), C3.62/10:90/10/2007, GRMC.
ƒCultural Atlas of Africa, G2446.E1C8 1998, Reference Collection.
ƒGaia Atlas of Green Economics, HC79.E5E363 1992, General Collection.
ƒGeorge Washington Atlas: A Collection of Eighty‐Five Maps Including Twenty‐Eight Made by George Washington…, G1201.S3M34 1932, Archives and Special Collections.
ƒHistorical and Cultural Atlas of African Americans, E185.A8 1991, Reference Collection.
ƒHistorical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress, 1789‐1989, G1201.F9M26 1989, Atlas Collection.
ƒHistorical Atlas of State Power in Congress, 1790‐1990, G1201.F7M3 1993, Atlas Collection.
ƒHistorical Maps on File, G1033.M265 1984, GRMC.
ƒHistory Atlas of Asia, G2201.S1B25 1998, Atlas Collection.
ƒHistory Atlas of South America, G1541.S1E4 1998, Atlas Collection.
ƒKosovo Atlas and 2001 Election Day Reference Guide, G2018.K6F7K67 2001, Atlas Collection.
ƒKosovo Atlas: Municipal Elections 2000, My Municipality, My Decision, G2018.K6F7K67 2000, Atlas Collection.
ƒMaps on File, G1021.M33, GRMC.
ƒNational Atlas: Presidential Elections, 1789‐2000 (map), G3701.F9 2000.G4, GRMC.
ƒNational Economic Atlas of China, G2306.G1N3 1994, Atlas Collection.
ƒNew Penguin Atlas of Recent History: Europe Since 1815, G1797.21.S1M3 2002, Atlas Collection.
ƒNew State of War and Peace: An International Atlas, G1046.R1K47 1991, Atlas Collection.
ƒOne Hundred Years: Washington, D.C. and Metropolitan Area (map), G3851.R41865.U5 1965, GRMC.
ƒPalgrave Concise Historical Atlas of the Cold War, G1035.S9 2003, Atlas Collection.
ƒPenguin Atlas of Women in the World, G1046.E1S4 2003, Reference Collection.
ƒPhilip’s Modern College Atlas for Africa, G2445.G42 1998, Atlas Collection.
ƒRoutledge Historical Atlas of Presidential Elections, G1201.S1M5 2001, Atlas Collection.
ƒSouth Germany, National Assembly Election Results, 1919 (map), G6296.F9 1944.U5, GRMC.
ƒSouth Germany, Reichstag Election Results, May 1924 (map), G6296.F9 1944.U5, GRMC.
ƒState Maps on File, G1200.F3 1984, GRMC.
ƒState of China Atlas: Mapping the World’s Fastest Growing Economy, G2305.D66 2005, Atlas Collection.
ƒState of Women in the World Atlas, G1046.E1S4 1997, Atlas Collection.
ƒState of the World Atlas: A Unique Visual Survey of Political, Economic, and Social Trends, G1021.K46 1999, Atlas Collection.
ƒStudent Atlas of World Politics, G1046.F1A43 2006, Atlas Collection.
ƒWealth Beyond Measure: An Atlas of New Economics, HC79.E5E364 1992, General Collection.
ƒWorld Bank Atlas, G1046.G1W67 2004, Atlas Collection.