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1895 Map of Chico

Name: 1895 Topographic Map of Chico
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1895
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1895

About this map

The Sacramento River and its myriad tributaries define this 1895 landscape, where valley agriculture meets the industrializing foothills of the Sierra Nevada. The Southern Pacific R. R. serves as a central artery through Chico, Durham, and Nelson, while the eastern reaches are marked by a dense network of lumber and flour operations. Named mills like Keefer's Mill, Chapman's Mill, and Doons Mill suggest a landscape heavily reliant on timber and water power along the Butte Creek and Feather River drainages.

Gold country legacy is visible near the Feather River canyon, where settlements such as Cherokee, Deadwood, and Oregon City sit amidst terrain marked by the Lucky Jim Mine and the distinctive Mineral Slide. The transition from the flat river valley to the complex ridges and hollows, such as Sycamore Hollow, highlights the geographic diversity of the era, from the river landings like Sidd Landing to the high points at Saw Mill Peak.