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1940s Maps of Placer County, California

Explore 21 historic maps of Placer County from the 1940s. These maps offer a rare glimpse into what life looked like during the 1940s — showing old roads, neighborhoods, homes, and landmarks that have changed or disappeared over time.

Whether you're researching your family's past, planning a metal detecting trip, or studying how Placer County's landscape evolved across the 1940s, these high-resolution maps are a powerful tool for exploring the history of this region.

  • Focus on a specific era: All maps on this page are from the 1940s, giving you a focused view of this time period.
  • See what’s changed: Compare century-old streets, trails, and buildings to today's modern landscape using overlays and satellite layers.
  • Research with precision: Use these maps for genealogy, historical research, land use analysis, or educational projects.
  • View, download, or print: Maps are fully viewable online in high resolution, and can be downloaded or printed for your own records.

Start exploring Placer County's history through authentic maps from the 1940s. This is your window into the past.

Placer County, CA maps

(21)
  1. 1940 Map of Truckee
    1940 Map of Truckee
    1940 Truckee
    1940 Print · USGS
    The High Sierra and Lake Tahoe shoreline appear here in the pre-war era, showing a landscape defined by timber, tourism, and transit. Genealogists and historians can trace the early resort development at Tahoe Vista, the lumber works at Hobart Mills, and the vital Southern Pacific rail line.
    4 unique versions available
  4. 1941 Map of Folsom, 1957 Print
    1941 Map of Folsom, 1957 Print
    1941 Folsom
    1957 Print · USGS
    The foothills of the Sierra Nevada meet the Central Valley in the early 1940s, showing the river and rail corridors before major reservoirs were built. Researchers can trace the original tracks of the Southern Pacific and locate historic rural hubs like Natoma, Clarksville, and Mormon Island Sch.
    2 unique versions available
  7. 1942 Map of Markham Ravine
    1942 Map of Markham Ravine
    1942 Markham Ravine
    1942 Print · USGS
    Western Placer County was a landscape of busy rail lines and rural schoolhouses in the early 1940s. Genealogists and historians can trace old homesteads near Sheridan, locate the Clay Quarry at Lincoln, or find former community centers like Central Sch.
  10. 1944 Map of Auburn
    1944 Map of Auburn
    1944 Auburn
    1944 Print · USGS
    The Placer County foothills in the early 1940s show a landscape of deep river canyons and growing rail towns. Researchers can trace rural school districts like Japanese Sch and old river crossings at Rattlesnake Bridge and Salmon Falls.
    3 unique versions available
  13. 1944 Map of Folsom
    1944 Map of Folsom
    1944 Folsom
    1944 Print · USGS
    The American River region around Folsom thrives in the early 1940s, marked by dredging bars and early rail transport before major reservoirs transformed the valley. Researchers can find many schoolhouses like Mormon Island Sch and landmarks such as the State Prison Represa.
    2 unique versions available
  16. 1947 Map of Sacramento, 1948 Print
    1947 Map of Sacramento, 1948 Print
    1947 Sacramento
    1948 Print · USGS
    The Sacramento Valley meets the high Sierra during a period of post-war expansion. Trace the historic river delta islands like Grand Island or locate early airfield footprints at McClellan Air Force Base and Mather Air Force Base.
    2 unique versions available
  19. 1947 Map of Wheatland, 1958 Print
    1947 Map of Wheatland, 1958 Print
    1947 Wheatland
    1958 Print · USGS
    Wheatland and the surrounding ranchlands are shown shortly after the war, when the railroad and river systems dictated local commerce. Researchers can trace family-named sites like Johnson Ranch and Horstville or the early boundaries of the Camp Beale Military Reservation.
    4 unique versions available
  22. 1948 Map of Sacramento, 1951 Print
    1948 Map of Sacramento, 1951 Print
    1948 Sacramento
    1951 Print · USGS
    Post-war Northern California comes alive in this regional survey, capturing the era of expansion between the Central Valley and the High Sierra. Researchers can trace the rail networks of the Central California Traction and Sacramento Northern RR or locate landmarks like the State Capitol and University of California Davis.
  25. 1948 Map of Foresthill, 1975 Print
    1948 Map of Foresthill, 1975 Print
    1948 Foresthill
    1975 Print · USGS
    The gold-bearing ridges of the Sierra Nevada foothills come alive in this mid-century survey of the Placer County mining country. Genealogists and historians can locate family claims and old outposts like Yankee Jims, the Mayflower Mine, and Ebberts Ranch.
  28. 1949 Map of Wheatland
    1949 Map of Wheatland
    1949 Wheatland
    1949 Print · USGS
    Wheatland and the surrounding agricultural landscape are shown here in the late 1940s as the regional economy balanced ranching with military development. Researchers can trace family-named lands like Boardman Ranch and Durst Ranch, or explore the wartime footprint of the Camp Beale Military Reservation.
  31. 1949 Map of Georgetown
    1949 Map of Georgetown
    1949 Georgetown
    1949 Print · USGS
    El Dorado County’s gold country is captured here during the late 1940s, showcasing a landscape shaped by a century of mining. Researchers can trace historic sites like the Sutters Mill Site, Spanish Dry Diggings, and the Uniontown Cem.
    5 unique versions available
  34. 1949 Map of Wheatland, 1953 Print
    1949 Map of Wheatland, 1953 Print
    1949 Wheatland
    1953 Print · USGS
    Yuba and Nevada counties appear here during the postwar transition of the late 1940s, showing a landscape defined by massive gold dredging and military expansion. Genealogists and historians can trace the foundations of Camp Beale Military Reservation or locate early mining sites like Timbuctoo and the Pennsylvania Mine.
    3 unique versions available
  37. 1949 Map of Grass Valley, 1953 Print
    1949 Map of Grass Valley, 1953 Print
    1949 Grass Valley
    1953 Print · USGS
    Gold mining operations dominate the landscape around the Sierra foothills just after the war. Local researchers can trace the extent of the Empire Mine, find remote outposts like Anthony House, or locate rural schools such as Limekiln Sch and Forest Springs Sch.
    5 unique versions available
  40. 1949 Map of Georgetown, 1954 Print
    1949 Map of Georgetown, 1954 Print
    1949 Georgetown
    1954 Print · USGS
    Georgetown and the surrounding Mother Lode country are shown here in the late 1940s, when the region's mining heritage was still etched clearly into the landscape. Genealogists and historians can locate specific sites like Volcanoville, the Beebe Mine, and the Canyon Creek School.
    4 unique versions available
  43. 1949 Map of Wolf, 1954 Print
    1949 Map of Wolf, 1954 Print
    1949 Wolf
    1954 Print · USGS
    Nevada and Placer counties appear here just after the war, showing a landscape shaped by military expansion and hydraulic engineering. You can trace the boundary of the Camp Beale Military Reservation or locate the Pine Hill Mine and Garden Bar along the Bear River.
    3 unique versions available
  46. 1949 Map of Colfax, 1956 Print
    1949 Map of Colfax, 1956 Print
    1949 Colfax
    1956 Print · USGS
    Sierra Nevada rail and mining history converge in this mid-century survey of the Placer County foothills. Researchers can trace the Southern Pacific line through Colfax, Weimar, and Applegate while locating the historic Illinoistown Site and numerous inactive mines.
    6 unique versions available
  49. 1949 Map of Chicago Park, 1956 Print
    1949 Map of Chicago Park, 1956 Print
    1949 Chicago Park
    1956 Print · USGS
    The gold-bearing ridges between Nevada and Placer counties are shown in high detail during the late 1940s. Researchers can trace the extensive legacy of the Gold Rush at the You Bet Diggings, locate the Bear River Sch, or follow the historic Donner Trail Markers.
    7 unique versions available
  52. 1949 Map of Greenwood, 1957 Print
    1949 Map of Greenwood, 1957 Print
    1949 Greenwood
    1957 Print · USGS
    Gold country in the late 1940s reveals a landscape shaped by river mining and foothill ranching. Genealogists and historians can trace the locations of Spanish Dry Diggings, the Grit Mine, and Penobscot Farm along the American River forks.
    3 unique versions available
  55. 1949 Map of Foresthill, 1957 Print
    1949 Map of Foresthill, 1957 Print
    1949 Foresthill
    1957 Print · USGS
    Placer County gold mining country is captured here during the late 1940s, showing the ridge-top settlements and deep river canyons. Genealogists and historians can trace family-named sites like Ebberts Ranch, the Mayflower Mine, and the old Iowa Hill diggings.
    4 unique versions available
  58. 1949 Map of Camp Far West, 1959 Print
    1949 Map of Camp Far West, 1959 Print
    1949 Camp Far West
    1959 Print · USGS
    The foothills of Yuba and Placer counties are captured here in the late 1940s, dominated by the sprawling Bear River and the Camp Beale military grounds. Researchers can locate the Spenceville Site, the Dairy Farm Mine, and the Camp Far West Historic Site.
    5 unique versions available
  61. 1949 Map of Lake Combie, 1960 Print
    1949 Map of Lake Combie, 1960 Print
    1949 Lake Combie
    1960 Print · USGS
    Nevada and Placer Counties are captured here just after the war, showing the emergence of Lake Combie along the Bear River. Genealogists and historians can trace the Probable Route of Donner Party alongside local landmarks like the Stockton Hill Mine and Limekiln Sch.
    4 unique versions available
End of results
Showing maps 1-21 of 21

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