1945 Map of Blue Lake

About this map

Timber harvesting and cattle ranching define this mid-century view of the Humboldt County interior. The Mad River flows through the heart of the landscape, supplying the City Of Eureka Reservoir created by Sweesey Dam. Industrial activity is centered around Korbel and Blue Lake, where the California Barrel Company utilized the region's dense forests. The rugged topography is dotted with a vast network of family-named holdings, such as Angel Ranch and Hemphill Ranch, suggesting a period when small-scale livestock operations were dispersed across the hills.