1949 Map of Grass Valley

About this map

Grass Valley serves as the industrial and social hub of this gold-bearing region during the mid-twentieth century, surrounded by a dense network of significant mining operations. The landscape is marked by historic extraction sites including the Empire Mine, Idaho Maryland Mine, and the North Star Mine, highlighting the area's deep-rooted lode mining heritage. To the west, the historic settlement of Rough and Ready stands near the edge of the Camp Beale Military Reservation, which occupies a large portion of the southwestern terrain. The map captures the transition from heavy industry to rural community life, documented by family-named landmarks like Casey Corner and Higgins Corner, alongside social institutions such as the Banner Grange. Water management for both mining and agriculture is evident in the course of the Bear River and the presence of the Van Giesen Dam creating Lake Combie.