National Atlases: The National Atlas of the United States of America

Summary

This review examines the recently published National Atlas of the United States (1970) within the broader context of national atlas production. It recalls the 1939 British definition of a national atlas and traces subsequent developments, comparing the U.S. volume with the International Atlas (1969) and with loose-leaf national atlases such as those of Spain and Australia. The review discusses key design decisions: the use of 1:2,000,000 reference maps, the absence of relief on reference sheets, the inclusion of administrative boundaries, the choice of firm binding, and the very limited textual commentary. The author acknowledges the atlas’s exceptional thematic coverage—especially in economic, demographic, and socio-cultural maps—and its practical value for planners and researchers. However, he criticizes the fineness of some lines and lettering, the questionable inclusion of rapidly changing or highly specialized topics, and the tendency to use symbols rather than built-up-area depictions for urban regions. The article concludes that the National Atlas is a major achievement and an indispensable reference source, while arguing that the time is now opportune to create a National Atlas of the United Kingdom, given the establishment of the Department of the Environment and the completion of the 1971 census. The review thus combines an evaluative critique with a forward-looking argument for national atlas development.