Blog · September 27, 2026
How Old Plats Differ from Current GIS
An old plat is a paper survey of the lots at the time of recording. Current GIS is a countywide database drawn for taxation and viewing.
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The plat can have detail the GIS drops: curve data, monument types, and notes. The GIS can have later splits the plat never showed.
On the recorded sheet
Use the plat for the original lot design and the GIS for the present account. Where they conflict, find the later recorded document.
The mix-up to avoid
Scanning an old plat into the viewer does not resurvey it.
Find the county map
The county GIS map is the practical place to start. Find it from the Platbookmapper directory, then treat the recorded plat and deed as the documents behind the picture.
Not a survey. County GIS and tax parcel maps are assessment and planning layers. They are not a substitute for a recorded plat, deed, or licensed survey.