Tl;dr – I’m looking for a genealogy app or software for Mac that’s really heavy on place and migration route research. Know of anything?
So you guys know that I’m an amateur genealogist. And like any amateur, I find myself starting out with cobbled together tools. I use Ancestry.com a lot, just because it’s so handy for accessing so many databases, and I have the Mac version of Family Tree Maker, which I rarely use because it isn’t use-friendly AND it hogs resources. I also use Evernote and a complicated system of digital folders to keep track of various research about families and places. Oh, and some paper folders for copies of things I haven’t gotten around to transcribing yet.
So basically my research is spread over 4 places. I’d like to firm that up a little bit.
Second of all, what I’m really most interested in is the history of the places my people came from and their migrations. Family Tree Maker attempts to address this a little bit, but I would love some kind of software that allows me to layer migrations and places where I knew my ancestors to be on top of one another so I could really study them (I.e. Why did 3 of my 4th great grandpas end up in Place X? Aha there was a gold rush!)
I’d also like a way to make notes on the various migration patterns, not just the people themselves. But I want to be able to do it visually, and to keep all my information together.
So, does anybody know a really geographic/place-heavy genealogy software ideal for the Mac? Is or this something that has yet to be created? Is there any program that perhaps integrates Google Earth so I could do this myself? Am I asking too much? What’s the meaning of life?
(Okay, I’m done now.) Happy Detecting!
Genealogy Technology 
I have been wanting the same thing for years!!
Right?! Lisa, if I find something for us, I will definitely let you know!!
One thing that I do is to Google a place for its history. For example I may put in something like: Plattsburgh, N.Y. history of. Or I may use the county such as: Clinton County, N.Y. History. Many times you will find gems by doing this. The other thing that I do is call the library in the area you are interested in. They would know of books and or local historical societies that may help.
I thought I had responded to this. This is a great tip. Thank you!!!