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1949 Map of Colfax

Name: 1949 Topographic Map of Colfax
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1975
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1975

About this map

The Southern Pacific railroad corridor serves as the backbone for settlement through this section of the Sierra Nevada foothills during the mid-twentieth century. The transportation network is anchored by Colfax, while historic sites such as Illinoistown and New England Mills reveal the evolution of community centers along these ridges. The landscape is deeply marked by its mining history, featuring numerous dormant operations including the Rising Sun Mine, Bauer Mine, and Black Oak Mine.

Water management and natural terrain dictate the layout of the land, from the Boardman Canal winding across the western slopes to the steep descent of the North Fork American River in the east. Notable landmarks like Cape Horn and the Forest Hill Divide define the topography, while local infrastructure is represented by the Sanatorium near Weimar and the Spring Garden Sch in the south, illustrating the specialized development of these foothill towns.