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1962 Map of Calaveritas

Name: 1962 Topographic Map of Calaveritas
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1970
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1970

About this map

Calaveritas and Mountain Ranch anchor this landscape of deep gulches and hard-rock mining history in Calaveras County. The terrain is marked by a complex network of seasonal watercourses like Murray Creek, San Antonio Creek, and Old Gulch, where early settlement followed the gold-bearing veins. Numerous named claims such as the Lucky Jim Mine, Starlite Mine, and Gum Boot Mine are scattered across the hillsides, illustrating the intensive extraction that defined the local economy through the mid-20th century.

Institutional and community landmarks appear alongside the workings, including the Pricot Ranch School and the Sierra Vista Lookout atop Quiggs Mountain. To the north, the settlement of Cave City sits near McKinney Creek, while Dogtown and Donovan occupy the southern reaches near San Domingo Creek. The prevalence of named points like Italian Point and Simmons Point suggests a geography deeply tied to the families and miners who staked their livelihoods in these canyons.