1963 Map of Alder

About this map

Alder Gulch Dredge Tailings dominate the central landscape of this Madison County survey, evidence of the massive industrial gold mining that reshaped the terrain. Following the course of Alder Gulch toward the Ruby Valley, these gravel deposits sit just east of the town of Alder, where the Northern Pacific railroad terminates. The map reveals a transition from the intensive mining works of the gulch to the agricultural flats of The Island, bounded by the Ruby River and Clear Creek. To the north, the small settlement of Laurin and the Laurin Cem provide key points for genealogists researching early pioneer families. Further south and east, the landscape rises into mineral-rich hills marked by the St Lawrence Mine, Silver Bell Mine, and Cook Mine, illustrating the persistent search for ore beyond the primary placer deposits.