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1892 Map of Alturas

Name: 1892 Topographic Map of Alturas
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1906
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1906

About this map

Warner Mountains dominate the eastern landscape of this late nineteenth-century survey, dividing the high desert basins of the Modoc and Lassen territories. To the east, the Middle Alkali Lake and Upper Lake reflect the arid character of the Surprise Valley, where pioneer outposts like Fort Bidwell, Cedarville, and Eagleville were established along the California Nevada Boundary Line. The presence of Old Indian Villages near the center of the map indicates the significant indigenous history of the region prior to and during European settlement.

The western portion of the quadrangle is defined by the volcanic topography of the Modoc Lava Bed and the hydraulic network of the Pit River. Settlers clustered in small pockets such as Canby and Adin, while the northern expanse is anchored by the massive Goose Lake. This map captures a period when the economy was transitioning between military presence and early ranching, centered around the Warm Spring Valley and Antelope Plains.