Books about county histories were very popular from the 1880s to the 1920s. These publications offer information about the communities, towns, churches and businesses in the area, as well as detailed backgrounds on the families living there. Some of these will contain maps of the county listing all of the property owners at the time, which can be an invaluable resource for those researching the history of a home or property.
There are a growing number of county histories available online, so you can begin your search there. After that, check with your local library, historical society and genealogical society to see if they have copies of the county history you are researching. In addition to looking for any maps, you can also check the index of the county history for names of your property owners so that you can gain a better understanding of the people who lived in your house before you.