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2011 Map of Alder

Name: 2011 Topographic Map of Alder
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2011
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2011

About this map

Ruby River defines the valley floor of this Madison County landscape, where the settlements of Laurin, Ruby, and Alder sit at the intersection of historic mining and agricultural interests. The map traces a sophisticated network of water management, including the Ruby Valley Ditch, Combs Ditch Number Two, and Phillips Ditch, illustrating how the arid terrain was reclaimed for ranching and farming. Local history is deeply embedded in the land at the Laurin Cemetery and Taylor Cemetery, which serve as permanent markers of the area's early residents.

Hard-rock mining legacies are visible in the eastern hills, featuring the Saint Lawrence Mine, Silver Bell Mine, and the Golden Overlook Mine. These sites, along with names like Australia Gulch and Alder Gulch, evoke the 19th-century gold rush that originally drew prospectors to this region. The presence of the Alder Post Office and the Alder Rural Fire Dist centers the civic life of the valley in the early 21st century.