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1900 Map of Colfax

Name: 1900 Topographic Map of Colfax
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1900
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1900

About this map

Mining operations and early railroad infrastructure dominate this 1900 survey of the Sierra Nevada foothills and high country. The landscape is marked by numerous industrial sites including the Alaska Mine, Delhi Mine, and Derbec Mine, reflecting the region's intense resource extraction during the late nineteenth century. Movement through the steep river canyons was facilitated by the Southern Pacific RR and critical crossings like Edwards Bridge.

High-altitude settlements such as Allegheny, Washington, and Summit City are shown alongside smaller camps like Moores Flat and Snow Point. The hydraulic mining history of the area is evident in labels like Columbia Hill and Chalk Bluff Ridge, while the rugged hydrology of the Middle Fork Yuba River and North Fork American River provides a glimpse into the drainage systems that powered the regional economy. From the rail stations at Emigrant Gap and Blue Canyon to the remote Nigger Tent and Mountain House, this record illustrates the complex network of mountain commerce and travel.