Milton Historic Cemeteries Highlighted In New Interactive Map

MILTON, GA — In partnership with the Milton Historical Society, the City of Milton has developed a web-based interactive map of cemeteries as a way to help preserve Milton’s history. This story map features 27 cemeteries within the city, giving exact coordinates of each location, corresponding photographs and valuable information about the site.

To access the Milton Historical Cemeteries map, go online.

“The main goal of this map is preservation,” said James Farris, a member of the Milton Historical Society Board of Directors. “Now that we know where the locations are, we can keep our eye on them and ensure nothing happens to them.”

The first step to developing the map was finding the sites, Farris said. The City, legally, must keep record of known burial sites so the Historical Society (through the City) had GPS coordinates. But, they wanted to make those coordinates as exact as possible. Farris and other MHS members visited, in person, all but one of Milton's 27 known burial sites in Milton, and gathered accurate GPS coordinates and photos from all.

Most of the 27 cemeteries are located on private property, usually on current or former farms, and are small burial plots for about six or seven people. The Milton Historical Society asked permission from all property owners before entering the sites.

Milton's GIS (Geographic Information System) team worked to build the map with the information provided by the MHS.

"Maps like this allow us (in local government GIS) to do more than just manage geographic data for the internal use of the city," said Justin Rowell, part of Milton's GIS team. "We're creating products that can help to connect the public with data, provide useful map-based services, and at the same time expand their understanding of what GIS is and what it can do."

For Milton Historical Society, projects like this are a labor of love.

“First finding them, then uncovering them and seeing their condition… it was kind of an adventure,” Farris said. “Some people like to read about history, some people – like me – like to touch, feel and experience history.”

This is the second historical, interactive map Milton has developed on its website; the other is Milton Historic sites, where you can learn about Milton’s history through historic sites in the city. This interactive map allows you to browse the locations of Milton's historic cemeteries, as well as photos and information about each location. Additionally, each of the historic locations on that map has a marker on site with historic information. To view that map, go online.

"If the city can provide information to its citizens in a more accessible and engaging format, then people are more likely to feel a positive connection to the city," Rowell said.

To learn more about the Milton Historical Society, visit online.