1968 Map of Chrome

About this map

The community of Chrome sits at the eastern edge of the Mendocino National Forest in this late-1960s survey. This map documents a landscape defined by its extractive and ranching history, where the Black Diamond Mine and Gray Eagle Mine once sought minerals beneath the slopes of Red Mtn. Cattle ranching is evident at the Gillsay Ranch and Rowcroft Ranch, while the local topography is deeply etched by the drainage of Grindstone Creek and Stony Creek. A notable genealogical detail is preserved at the Watson Grave, situated near the eponymous Watson Road, and the quiet Grindstone Cem located further east along the creek. The map also captures the early infrastructure of the California Department of Water Resources, including multiple gaging stations along the waterways that manage the region's flow.