What is GIS?
A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer-based system designed to represent, capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and model geographic information. More than eighty percent of local government functions are associated with managing information about specific locations or geographic areas. GIS is a powerful, empowering technology, a system of systems, which manages the input, editing, storage, maintenance, management, retrieval, analysis, and output of geographically referenced information. The term "Enterprise GIS" is used for GIS implementations that are leveraging the use of one GIS system for multiple departments and stakeholders. The idea is to integrate and improve upon the inter-dependent work processes of the various agencies.
GIS supports applications such as:
- appraisal of property
- census analysis
- civil engineering
- crime analysis
- disaster response and homeland security
- E911 emergency dispatch
- economic development
- emergency management
- land planning
- natural resource stewardship
- public health and environmental analysis
- transportation planning
- and many more
Learn more about GIS here.
Providing interactive maps and the ability to analyze and create custom maps that create information from cross-referencing the different GIS data is what powers this technology for anyone with an Internet connection.
Learn more about GIS through the GIS Resources and How is GIS Used? tabs above.

On the Morrow County GIS Portal, users can view aerial photography with parcel boundaries, lot dimensions, quarter sections & lots, easements, subdivisions, lot/sublot numbers, school districts & schools, oil and gas wells, Auditor’s property and owner information.
Users can overlay natural resource mapping such as soils, streams, lakes, flood plains, and view surveys associated with a property or area.
Fire personnel can view aerials to discover water sources and the GIS Portal provides gas well locations and other critical infrastructure information to mutual aid responder's phones or tablets. Current and comprehensive GIS mapping has become a must-have tool within the First Responder community.
"Geospatial technologies are and essential tool to streamline and modernize the delivery of information and services to the citizens of Morrow County and to provide more efficient and effective tools for our workforce."
- Patricia K. Davies, Morrow County Auditor
- Bart Dennison, P.E., P.S., Morrow County Engineer
Learn more about GIS through the GIS Resources and How is GIS Used? tabs above.
"A geographic information system (GIS) is a computer-based tool for mapping and analyzing things that exist and events that happen on earth. GIS technology integrates common database operations such as query and statistical analysis with the unique visualization and geographic analysis benefits offered by maps.” ~ Esri