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1952 Map of Crescent City

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of Crescent City
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1962
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1962

About this map

Crescent City anchors the rugged coast of Del Norte County, shown here in the early 1950s as a vital hub for the regional timber and maritime industries. The coastal plain is dominated by the sprawling waters of Lake Earl and Lake Talawa, while the interior rises sharply into the heavily forested ridges of the Siskiyou National Forest. Cultural history is deeply etched into the landscape, from the Smith River Indian Reservation and the Yontocket Indian Village Site to the historic Nickerson Ranch.

The winding Smith River and its various forks carve through the terrain, supporting numerous groves within Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, such as Metcalf Grove and Stout Grove. Resource extraction is evident in the upland areas, where the Mountain View Chrome Mines and Alta Copper Mine follow the High Divide. Local infrastructure like the Redwood Highway and the County Airport near Dead Lake facilitate movement through this complex geography of lagoons, river valleys, and mountain peaks.