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1959 Map of Arcata South

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Arcata South
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1961
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1961

About this map

Humboldt State College anchors the northern edge of this coastal landscape, looking out over the tidal flats of Arcata Bay. The mid-century geography is defined by the transition from the built-up streets of Arcata and Eureka to the timbered slopes of Fickle Hill. Between these centers, the Northwestern Pacific railroad tracks hug the shoreline, connecting small industrial and transit points like Brainard and Bracut.

Inland, the map reveals a network of rural schools and family-named landmarks along the winding creek beds. Facilities like Jacoby Creek Sch and Garfield School served the growing residential clusters of Sunny Brae and Freshwater. The presence of several quarries and the Eureka Airport highlight a period of active local infrastructure development, while the Wharf (Ruins) and various sloughs like Fay Slough and Liscom Slough point to the area's long-standing reliance on its complex waterfront.