1951 Map of Blue Lake

About this map

Blue Lake and Korbel anchor the western edge of this coastal range landscape, where the Mad River winds through narrow valleys and timbered ridges. The map reflects a mid-century period of interior Humboldt County development, showing the City of Eureka Reservoir and the Swersey Dam Spillway as critical infrastructure for the growing region. Further east, the terrain rises toward Berry Summit and Lord Ellis Summit, dominated by the expanse of the Six Rivers National Forest. This survey is particularly valuable for its documentation of family-named ranching and homestead sites that defined the local economy, including Butler Valley Ranch, Angel Ranch, and the McElahan Cabin. These remote outposts are connected by a network of prairies and ridges, such as Boynton Prairie and Dunn Ridge, illustrating the historical reliance on elevated meadows for grazing and travel above the densely wooded canyons of Redwood Creek.