Map of the Coal Fields of the United States

Large map of the coal fields available in the Central and Eastern United States.

Published in 1874 as part of a statistical atlas of the United States, this map shows the large coal deposits discovered in the 18th and 19th centuries through Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Iowa, Kansas, Indiana, and Illinois. At the time of publication, wood was still the primary fuel and heating source throughout the United States, but it would gradually transition to coal during the 1880s with the introduction of new mining techniques and distribution systems.

Throughout the image, upper and lower measures are depicted using shades of gray, indicating to the reader the stratification (and relative accessibility) of each coal region. Anthracite (hard coal) basins are also shown and are especially desirable for their high energy density and minimal impurities. Alluvium deposits, typically indicating exceptionally fertile soil, can be seen in yellow along the Missouri River outside of Kansas City.