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1895 Map of Chico

Name: 1895 Topographic Map of Chico
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1908
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1908

About this map

Chico serves as the central hub of this late-nineteenth-century landscape, where the agricultural plains of the Sacramento Valley meet the rising foothills of the Sierra Nevada. The map documents a critical period of development driven by water and timber, visible through the numerous mills such as Keefer's Old Mill, Hupps Mill, and Doons Mill scattered along the mountain creeks. To the west, the Sacramento River is lined with active landings including Chico Landing, Parrot Landing, and Sidd Landing, marking the vital river trade that supported early Butte County.

Transit networks are well-established, featuring the Southern Pacific R. R. cutting through the valley and the Humboldt Road climbing into the ridges. Higher elevations reveal mining and timber outposts like Nimshew, Magalia, and the curiously named Helltown. Notable landmarks like Saw Mill Peak and South Table Mountain define the horizon, while the presence of the Spring Valley Reservoir suggests the early engineering of water resources for the region's growing industries.