1838 Bela Hubbard Maps

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These maps, made by Bela Hubbard in 1838, are an excellent source of information about Oakland County’s early landscape. They describe the land, forest, geological, and population of the area, including important places and people.

Bela Hubbard was a prominent and well respected leader in early Detroit. These maps were likely created for a number of reasons, not the least of which was land sales, and early land purchasers would have consulted them to determine good areas in which to settle.

Dating the Maps

No, you can’t take them out for dinner.

There is substantial evidence dating these maps to a period between 1838 and 1841. However, you may note that on the maps, there is date – “1822”. That’s not the date of these maps.

Per John Marshall of the Bloomfield Historical Society:

“The notation of 1822 at the bottom of the pages is followed by an additional notation such as:

            V 4°40’ E

This is a surveyor’s reference to the magnetic variation from true north as noted in the “Land Books” of 1822.  A couple of the township maps (e.g. Oxford) have the notation: Variation Omitted in Land Books.”

Source: Burton Collection, Detroit Public Library, “Michigan Maps – Hubbard V. 8, Oakland and Livingston Counties”, call number 977.4 [1838 – 1841] H86 V.8.

Courtesy Carroll DeWeese and John Marshall, Bloomfield Historical Society. Color corrected by Dave Decker, Oakland County Pioneer and Historical Society.

Map of Oakland County

Bela Hubbard’s Oakland County, 1838, painfully stitched together by Dave Decker, OCPHS

Index to Maps and Map Information from Burton Collection, Detroit Public Library

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Map Gallery