Cartography / Mapping - symbol for partial city or county boundary?

Question

I am trying to find out if there is a standard cartographic or mapping symbol that should be used when only part of a jurisdiction (part of a city or part of a county) is shown.  What happens at the 'edge of the map' if it doesn't extend to the entire city or county?  What type of line symbolizes that it is an arbitrary stopping point, rather than an official boundary line?

LouisHill1 · Answer

I think the last sentence is the key one!  Our executive director seems to remember that there was a standard way that one is "supposed" to do this.  Not a stickler, but very detail-oriented.  I'm intrigued myself now!  I initially thought a simple google search would get me the answer, but so far it has not.

LouisHill1 · Answer

I appreciate the idea of a locator map (which I have used in the past), but for this map I've been challenged to see if there is a more standard symbology to accomplish the task!  I'm also curious myself now.  Thanks!

ChrisDonohue__GISP · Answer

An alternative approach, if I may:

Add an inset map (locator map) which shows the County, then use the frame in it to show the extent of your main view.  This will provide your viewers with a context of where your main view depicts.

Using extent indicators to enhance overview or locator maps—Help | ArcGIS for Desktop

So, on the nuts and bolts side, in ArcMap, 2 Data Frames, with an Extent Indicator set up on one showing the extent of the other.

Chris Donohue, GISP