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1951 Map of Colfax

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Colfax
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1951
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1951

About this map

The Southern Pacific railroad corridor serves as the central spine of this Gold Country landscape, connecting the vital mountain hub of Colfax with established settlements like Weimar and Applegate. This 1951 edition highlights a transition in the region's history, noting the Illinoistown (Site) near the Historic Marker, indicating the early American settlement that preceded the railroad's arrival.

Heavy extraction and movement are evident through numerous inactive workings, such as the Rising Sun Mine and the Black Oak Mine. The terrain is deeply incised by the North Fork American River and the Bear River, where complex water management is shown through a network of the Bear River Canal, flumes, and siphons. Cultural markers of the era include the Sanatorium at Weimar and the remote Spring Garden Sch on the Forest Hill Divide, while the Probable Donner Trail traces a historical route across the northern ridges.