1950 Map of Greenwood

About this map

Greenwood and Spanish Dry Diggings anchor this 1950 portrait of the California Gold Country, where the deep canyons of the Middle Fork American River and North Fork American River define the landscape. The map reveals a post-war transition in El Dorado and Placer counties, showing the early stages of the Reservoir near Applegate alongside a dense network of older industrial sites. Numerous mining operations like the Grit Mine, Sliger Mine, and Oregon Bar Mine reflect the region's enduring mineral history. These sites are linked by a complex system of water infrastructure, including various ditches and flumes that served the hydraulic and hard-rock mines of the era. Smaller, isolated settlements such as Butcher Ranch, Grizzly Bear House, and Hoboken illustrate the scattered nature of early foothills habitation, while family-named sites like Penobscot Farm provide specific touchpoints for local genealogists.