Need map software recommendations

[gapstr]

Good morning,

I need recommendations for some good map software. I need to produce a map encompasing a large area of the Townships surrounding Woodstock, IL, at a scale of about an inch to the mile or so. It would be helpful if the maps were complete enough to include all the rural roads. I first tried using Mapquest to make this, but it only prints to such a small section of the paper that I would be cutting and taping hundreds of little pieces of paper into my map. Not practical, wastes paper, and the little map pieces didn't always align correctly. I looked into getting the Township zoning maps from the County Government Center, but those are blueprints and do not copy well.

Somewhere, there must be a software package that will let me print the aligning map sections I need to full 11 x 17 sheets, or even 8.5 x 11 if necessary, which I can then assemble into a large map more reasonably than I could with hundreds of scraps cut out from Mapquest printouts. It doesn't matter to me whether this software is for Mac or Windows. The printer is a black & white laser printer, so color maps are not important.

Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

Andrew Gapstr.

[Gregg]

Andrew, perhaps you could contact a local civil engineering firm and ask about getting a map from them of the area you're interested in. If it's for a good cause, they might do it for nothing, but a nominal charge for the printing shouldn't be too outrageous. You'd want to make sure they know what you want shown. That way they could eliminate clutter on the print of things you're not interested in. They probably have maps of the entire NE part of the state, and could zero in on what you're looking for quite easily. Most firms probably use AutoCad, and they could print an 11x17 or larger; up to 30x42 is common, but bigger is possible.

[pendragon]

Perhaps the USGS maps will be of help. http://edcsns17.cr.usgs.gov/EarthExplorer/

BTW, Woodstock, IL, USA:
  42 18 52 N
055 26 54 W

Harv

[Xairbusdriver]

Also check with your city and/or county government. Even my small town has aerial photographs of the entire town. Buty those may be too large for your needs. On the other hand, you might be able to use the rducing function of a copier to make them fit your paper sizes.

Good luck!

Jim C. (never lost, but seldom knows where he is!)

[jwboyd]

Take a look here:

http://delorme.com/

I use their Street Atlas USA for trip planning, etc. I have their EarthMate shirt-pocket GPS which I used until my G3 WallStreet PowerBook gave up. Can't use it now because it plugs into an ADB port, which my iBook does not have.

edit
P.S. I forgot to mention how detailed Street Atlas USA is: It shows all the rural roads, even the lane into my daughter's Indiana farmstead.

[gapstr]

Thank you for all your responses. I'll let you know if any work out well.

A. G.