If you load up Google Maps, you may notice that they have removed the “Hybrid” button and replaced it with “Terrain.” Here is a live frame of the Google Terrain view of New York City 10010.

View Larger Map

Here is a static image of the terrain view from above (just in case you do not see it):

Yes, there are plenty of other mapping services that offer these types of terrain views. I am sure someone will do a post on the alternatives and I will try to link to that post later.

Gary Price posted a compilation: Sanborn Maps From Google and Historic Maps from Many Providers (Free and Fee).

Postscript: I must have missed this the other day, but Gary Price just pointed it out to me. Notice, when you mouse over the “satellite” button, it shows you a check box for “show labels.” This is basically Google’s hybrid view:

Related Topics: Google: Maps & Local

About The Author: Barry Schwartz is Search Engine Land's News Editor and owns RustyBrick, a NY based web consulting firm. He also runs Search Engine Roundtable, a popular search blog on very advanced SEM topics. Barry's personal blog is named Cartoon Barry and he can be followed on Twitter here. For more background information on Barry, see his full bio over here. See more articles by Barry Schwartz