1949 Map of Grass Valley

About this map

Grass Valley and its surrounding hills serve as the centerpiece of this mid-century Nevada County survey, revealing a landscape defined by the legacies of the California Gold Rush. The map documents an intensive subterranean industrial network, marking major sites like the Empire Mine, the Idaho-Maryland Mine, and the North Star Mine. These workings, along with numerous prospects and inactive sites such as the Last Chance Mine, show how gold extraction shaped the regional layout, from the residential clusters at Boston Ravine and Alta Hill to the water management systems of the Banner Reservoir and the South Fork Wolf Creek. Local genealogy and community life are reflected in the presence of St Marys Acad, Greenwood Mem Cem, and the Fair Grounds, while early aviation is represented by both Gilmore Airport and the Loma Rica Airport.