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1891 Map of Colfax

Name: 1891 Topographic Map of Colfax
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1891
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1891

About this map

North Bloomfield and the surrounding hydraulic mining districts of the late nineteenth century define this landscape at the heart of California's Gold Country. The survey captures a complex network of industrial and social development, ranging from established towns like North Columbia and Washington to specialized sites like the Alaska Mine and the Malakoff diggings. The Southern Pacific Railroad snakes through the high country past Emigrant Gap, illustrating the vital transportation corridor connecting the Sierra Nevada to the Sacramento Valley.

Remote settlements and waypoints such as Moores Flat, Snow Point, and Relief Hill are mapped alongside local infrastructure like the County Hospital and Sugar Pine Mill. These labels offer a detailed record of the region’s evolution from raw mining camps into a structured network of timber and transit hubs. The map also delineates high mountain geography, including Grouse Ridge and the Black Mountains, showcasing the steep drainages of the Middle Fork Yuba River and the North Fork American River.