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42-519: Sanborn maps are detailed maps of U.S. cities and towns in the 19th and 20th centuries. Originally published by The Sanborn Map Company (Sanborn), the maps were created to allow fire insurance companies to assess their total liability in urbanized areas of the United States. Since they contain detailed information about properties and individual buildings in approximately 12,000 U.S. cities and towns, Sanborn maps are valuable for documenting changes in

84-668: A change of opinion reflected in Sir Christopher Wren 's inclusion of a site for 'the Insurance Office' in his new plan for London in 1667". A number of attempted fire insurance schemes came to nothing, but in 1681, economist Nicholas Barbon and eleven associates established the first fire insurance company, the "Insurance Office for Houses", at the back of the Royal Exchange to insure brick and frame homes. Initially, 5,000 homes were insured by Barbon's Insurance Office. In

126-610: A civil engineer and surveyor, began working on fire insurance maps in 1866. That year, he was contracted by the Aetna Insurance Company to prepare maps of areas in Tennessee . About the same time, he developed similar maps of Boston , published as Insurance Map of Boston, Volume 1, 1867. Seeing a lucrative market for this type of map, he established the D. A. Sanborn National Insurance Diagram Bureau in New York City to publish

168-475: A customer was often determined solely through the use of a Sanborn map. The maps also allowed insurance companies to visualize their exposure in their coverage areas; when an agent sold a policy, he could color in the corresponding building on the map. In the late 18th century, insurance companies in London began to create detailed maps to give underwriters the information they needed to assess fire risk. The practice

210-630: A fire loss covered under the fire insurance policy, the insured shall immediately give notice thereof to the insurance company. Within 15 days of the occurrence of such loss the insured should submit a claim in writing giving the details of damages and their estimated values. Details of other insurances on the same property should also be declared. Misc: Daniel Alfred Sanborn Daniel Alfred Sanborn (April 5, 1827 in Somerville, Massachusetts  – April 11, 1883 in Brooklyn , New York )

252-711: A member of the Map Committee to its Board of Directors , and a second seat was added by 1927. However, the onset of the Great Depression greatly curtailed construction activity in the United States. By 1936, Sanborn had reduced its publishing output from 60 to 20 volumes per year, a pace that would take over 50 years to update the entire map collection. In the 1950s, insurance companies began to use an alternative form of underwriting known as line carding . Line carding had been used for decades to underwrite properties that were not covered by fire maps. Each insured property

294-587: A property insurance attorney who has represented large insurance carriers like Nationwide , noted "that homeowners are really going to have to look out for themselves". Five days after Crist vetoed the Consumer Choice Act, Corless defended property insurance deregulation by pointing out that "if the blue-chip insurance companies wanted to price themselves out of the market", then they would go out of business. He accused Crist of making choices on behalf of consumers, not protecting their right to choose. In 2006

336-405: A resource for people in many different fields. The maps facilitate historical research through the study of urban growth and decline patterns, and for research into the evolution of specific buildings, sites and districts. Genealogists use the maps to locate the residences and workplaces of ancestors. Planners use the maps to study historic urban planning designs. Historic preservationists use

378-628: A ‘specials’ index with the names of churches, schools, businesses etc.; and a master index indicating the entirety of the mapped area and the sheet numbers for each large-scale map (usually depicting four to six blocks); and general information such as population, economy and prevailing wind direction. The maps include outlines of each building and outbuilding; the location of windows and doors; street names; street and sidewalk widths; property boundaries; fire walls; natural features ( rivers , canals , etc.); railroad corridors; building use (sometimes even particular room uses); house and block number; as well as

420-519: Is governed by the All India Fire Tariff that lays down the terms of coverage, the premium rates and the conditions of the fire policy. The fire insurance policy has been renamed as "Standard Fire and Special Perils Policy". The Standard Fire and Special Perils Policy (SFSP) is a kind of traditional insurance product that is specially designed to protect your property and its articles from the unforeseen unfortunate accidents caused due to fire and

462-411: Is to have alternative living arrangements included in a policy. If property damage caused by a covered loss prevents a person from living in their home, policies can pay the expenses of alternate living arrangements (e.g., hotels and restaurant costs) for a specified period of time to compensate for the "loss of use" of the home until the owners can return. The additional living expenses limit can vary, but

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504-576: Is typically set at up to 20% of the dwelling coverage limit. Owners need to talk with their insurance company for advice about appropriate coverage and determine what type of limit may be appropriate. Following the September ;11 attacks , a jury deliberated insurance payouts for the destruction of the World Trade Center . Leaseholder Larry A. Silverstein sought more than $ 7 billion in insurance money; he argued two attacks had occurred at

546-485: The Library of Congress , and from the copyright owners, Environmental Data Resources (EDR), a division of LightBox. Fire insurance Open perils cover all the causes of loss not specifically excluded in the policy. Common exclusions on open peril policies include damage resulting from earthquakes , floods , nuclear incidents , acts of terrorism , and war. Named perils require the actual cause of loss to be listed in

588-416: The built environment of American cities over many decades. Sanborn held a monopoly over fire insurance maps for the majority of the 20th century, but the business declined as US insurance companies stopped using maps for underwriting in the 1960s. The last Sanborn fire maps were published on microfilm in 1977, but old Sanborn maps remain useful for historical research into urban geography. The license for

630-463: The 1920s, the company employed about 700 people, including about 300 field surveyors and 400 cartographers, printers, managers, salesmen, and support staff. Areas under intensive development were surveyed every six months. Sanborn's monopoly was resented by some insurance companies for its high cost. The Underwriter's Association of the Pacific complained that an "Eastern monopoly" was giving service that

672-460: The Boston atlas and develop and sell maps of additional areas. Within several decades, the company became the largest and most successful American map company. This growth came about through savvy management and the buyout of competing firms. In 1889 Sanborn acquired Perris and Browne, an older firm, and can by virtue of this expansion date its origins to 1852. The firm name established by Sanborn in 1867

714-462: The WTC. Its insurers—including Chubb Corp. and Swiss Reinsurance Co.—claimed the "coordinated" attack counted as a single event. In December 2004 the federal jury arrived at a compromise decision. In May 2007 New York Governor Eliot Spitzer announced more than $ 4.5 billion would be made available to rebuild the 16-acre (65,000 m ) WTC complex as part of a major insurance claims settlement. In

756-406: The allied perils. With multiple extensions, this policy not only keeps your property secure but also lessens the extent of the loss or damage that you may suffer causing a huge financial burden, and thus, it provides you relief from such anxiety. The risks covered are as follows: The following causes of loss are covered: The following are excluded from insurance coverage: Claims In the event of

798-640: The average Florida annual insurance premium was $ 1,386 for a homeowner, one of the highest in the country. In May 2022, Florida lawmakers have signed off on quick fixes to the state's property insurance crisis but critics say the plan pays little attention to the growing threat of climate change. Governor Ron DeSantis signed bipartisan legislation implementing the most significant and comprehensive property insurance reforms Florida has seen in decades to provide short- and long-term relief to Floridians to combat skyrocketing insurance costs. Fire insurance business in India

840-462: The company continued to sell its maps and perform some updates. Government sales began to play a larger role, especially the Census Bureau and municipal planning agencies. Sanborn printed its last catalog in 1950, created its last new map in 1961, and issued its last update in 1977. In 1996, the license for the maps was acquired by land data company Environmental Data Resources (EDR). In 2019, EDR

882-464: The composition of building materials including the framing, flooring, and roofing materials; the strength of the local fire department; indications of sprinkler systems; locations of fire hydrants ; location of water and gas mains; and even the names of most public buildings, churches and businesses. Unique information includes the location of the homes of prominent individuals, brothels, and more ephemeral buildings including outhouses and stables. At

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924-401: The cost to replace homes in a neighborhood is rising; the amount needs to be in step with the actual reconstruction value of the home. In case of a fire, household content replacement is tabulated as a percentage of the value of the home. In case of high-value items, the insurance company may ask to specifically cover these items separate from the other household contents. One last coverage option

966-421: The coverage limit if the costs for construction have increased. This generally will not exceed 25% of the limit. When obtaining an insurance policy, the limit is the maximum amount of benefit the insurance company will pay for a given situation or occurrence. Limits also include the ages below or above what an insurance company will not issue a new policy or continue a policy. This amount will need to fluctuate if

1008-411: The decline in importance of fire insurance maps." From the late 1930s to the late 1950s, Sanborn's annual profit fell from $ 500,000 to just $ 100,000. About thirty insurance companies accounted for most of the company's sales. However, its monopoly over insurance mapping had allowed it to earn substantial profits over the decades. These profits were invested in a portfolio of stocks and bonds. By 1958,

1050-586: The maps to understand the significance and historical evolution of buildings, including their historic uses and building materials in conservation and rehabilitation efforts. Demographers and urban geographers use them to study patterns of growth and migration of populations. Environmental scientists also use the maps for historical analysis of properties, as the maps often showed the locations of gas stations, drycleaners, and other potential sources of soil and groundwater contamination. Historic Sanborn maps are available through public or university libraries, including

1092-408: The maps was acquired by land data company Environmental Data Resources (EDR), and EDR was acquired in 2019 by real estate services company LightBox. The Sanborn maps themselves are large-scale lithographed street plans at a scale of 50 feet to one inch (1:600) on 21 by 25 inches (53 by 64 cm) sheets of paper. The maps were published in volumes, bound and then updated until the subsequent volume

1134-463: The maps. It was said that at one time, insurance companies and their agents “relied upon them with almost blind faith”. The maps were utilized by insurance companies to determine the potential risk of a particular building, taking into account all of the information included on the map: building material, proximity to other buildings and fire departments , the location of gas lines, etc. The decision as to how much, if any, insurance would be offered to

1176-415: The outset of the fire insurance industry, underwriters visited every property that was under consideration for coverage. As insurance companies increased their service areas, it was no longer practical to send people to every insurable property to assess the risk. The Sanborn maps allowed them to underwrite properties from the office, pooling the cost with other insurance companies that also subscribed to

1218-456: The policy for insurance to be provided. The more common named perils include such damage-causing events as fire, lightning , explosion, cyber-attack , and theft. Property insurance can be traced to the Great Fire of London , which in 1666 devoured more than 13,000 houses. The devastating effects of the fire converted the development of insurance "from a matter of convenience into one of urgency,

1260-838: The risk of loss from fire, in the form of perpetual insurance . In 1752, he founded the Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss by Fire . Franklin's company refused to insure certain buildings, such as wooden houses, where the risk of fire was too great. There are three types of insurance coverage. Replacement cost coverage pays the cost of repairing or replacing the property with like kind & quality regardless of depreciation or appreciation. Premiums for this type of coverage are based on replacement cost values, and not based on actual cash value. Actual cash value coverage provides for replacement cost minus depreciation . Extended replacement cost will pay over

1302-486: The stock was selling for $ 45 per share, but the investment portfolio was worth $ 65 per share. This attracted the attention of the young Warren Buffett , who pressured the company to distribute the investment portfolio to shareholders. Buffett eventually purchased 23% of the company's outstanding shares as an activist investor , representing 35% of his investment partnership's total assets under management . Allied with other dissatisfied shareholders, Buffett could count on

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1344-426: The votes of at least 44% of the shares in a proxy fight . The Board agreed to buy back shares from any shareholder at fair value, paying with a portion of its investment portfolio. 72% of the outstanding shares were turned in. In just two years, Buffett had secured a 50% return on his investment. With the decline of its insurance business, Sanborn could no longer afford to maintain its army of surveyors. However,

1386-494: The wake of Hurricane Katrina , several thousand homeowners filed lawsuits against their insurance companies accusing them of bad faith and failing to properly and promptly adjust their claims. On 24 June 2009, Florida Governor Charlie Crist vetoed the Consumer Choice Act (H.B. 1171). The bill would have trumped state regulation, and allowed Florida's biggest insurance companies to establish their own rates. Remarking upon State Farm's pullout from Florida, Ted Corless ,

1428-458: The wake of this first successful venture, many similar companies were founded in the following decades. Initially, each company employed its own fire department to prevent and minimize the damage from conflagrations on properties insured by them. They also began to issue ' fire insurance marks ' to their customers; these would be displayed prominently above the main door to the property in order to aid positive identification. One such notable company

1470-621: Was "very slow, expensive, and generally unsatisfactory." In the 1910s, the National Board of Fire Underwriters investigated the possibility of creating its own maps. However, many insurance companies opposed the proposal, citing the "very large expenditure" required and their satisfaction with Sanborn's "commendably satisfactory" service. Instead, the NBFU Map Committee took an active role in Sanborn's operations. In 1922, Sanborn agreed to add

1512-636: Was a surveyor who founded the Sanborn Map Company , a well-known provider of fire insurance maps. Before starting his company he produced insurance maps for Boston and several cities in Tennessee for the Aetna Insurance Company . He was originally hired by Aetna because they were impressed by his work on a Boston Atlas. In 1867 he formed the D.A. Sanborn National Insurance Diagram Bureau in New York City . This business-related biographical article

1554-510: Was acquired by real estate services company LightBox. Over time, Sanborn diversified into other mapping activities, and as of 2020 is a geospatial specialist and holder of electronic GIS assets and systems, though the fire insurance business continues as a niche department. Corporate headquarters are in Colorado. Sanborn maps are found primarily in the archives and special collections of town halls and public and university libraries, and remain

1596-585: Was adopted by American insurance companies in the mid-19th century. Demand for fire insurance mapping grew rapidly after the end of the Civil War . Factors such as the Homestead Act , railroad construction, the Second Industrial Revolution and massive immigration to the United States all fostered huge population growths, urbanization, and heightened demand for mapping. Daniel Alfred Sanborn ,

1638-870: Was changed in 1876 when the firm was incorporated under the name Sanborn Map and Publishing Company, which then became the Sanborn-Perris Map Company, Ltd. until 1902, when the name was shortened to the Sanborn Map Company. In 1916, Sanborn purchased its last major competitor, the E. Hexamer & Sons of Philadelphia, and became a monopoly . Company headquarters moved to 629 Fifth Avenue in northern Pelham, New York , but there were also regional offices in San Francisco , Chicago , and Atlanta . The Sanborn Company sent out legions of surveyors to map building footprints in all major urbanized areas, along with building details related to fire risk. At its peak in

1680-462: Was listed on a single card, and no map was kept. Corporate mergers also reduced the need for Sanborn Maps, since the consolidated company only needed to buy one set of maps. As insurance companies increased in size, they could withstand larger disasters and no longer needed to use insurance maps to reduce their concentration of risk. Companies also cited "modern building construction, better building fire codes , and improved fire protection methods for

1722-444: Was produced. Larger cities would be covered by multiple volumes of maps. Between editions of published volumes, map updates were sent out as correction slips. Sanborn employees, called "pasters" or "correctors", would visit subscribers' offices to paste the slips on top of the old maps. The map volumes contain an enormous amount of information. They are organized as follows: a decorative title page; an index of streets and addresses;

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1764-825: Was the Hand in Hand Fire & Life Insurance Society , founded in 1696 at Tom's Coffee House in St Martin's Lane in London . The first property insurance company still extant was founded in 1710 as the Sun Fire Office and is now, through many mergers and acquisitions, the RSA Insurance Group . In Colonial America , Benjamin Franklin helped to popularize and make standard the practice of insurance, particularly Property insurance to spread

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