1960 Map of Comptche

About this map

The California Western Railroad winds through the heart of the Mendocino coast range on this survey, following the drainage of the South Fork Noyo River toward the interior. The landscape is defined by the timber and conservation history of the mid-twentieth century, dominated by the Jackson State Forest and its various camps such as the Parlin Fork Conservation Camp and Chamberlain Creek Conservation Camp. Small coastal settlements and sidings like Glenblair, Irmulco, and Hayshed Siding mark the path of the rails, while the namesake village of Comptche sits further south in a clearing along the Albion River. Elevated sites like Mathison Pk Lookout and Observatory Hill provide vantage points over a complex topography of ridges including Three Chop Ridge and H-Chute Ridge. This 1960s perspective captures a working forest transition, where old logging camps like Old Camp Seven exist alongside state parks such as Russian Gulch State Park and Van Damme Beach State Park.