1943 Map of Fort Bragg

About this map

The rugged Mendocino coastline in the early 1940s is defined by its deep-water river mouths and timber heritage. At the northern end of the sheet, Fort Bragg serves as the primary urban center, while the Noyo River and Big River provide natural harbors for industry and transport. The interior landscape is marked by the Caspar South Fork Railroad, which follows the terrain of the southern gulches, illustrating the era’s reliance on rail to move resources toward the coastal mills and ports. Coastal settlements like Caspar, Mendocino, and the Heeser Addition are established alongside a string of coves and points, including Laguna Pt and Cabrillo Pt. Smaller hamlets like Pine Grove and Little River sit near the mouth of their respective namesake waters, connected by the burgeoning coastal road network and the inland Comptche Road.