1912 Map of Marysville Buttes

About this map

The dramatic volcanic spires of the Marysville Buttes rise abruptly from the surrounding flatlands of the Sacramento Valley in this 1912 survey. This area of Sutter County is defined by the contrast between the high peaks of North Butte, West Butte, and South Butte and the low-lying wetlands of the Sutter Basin. The map captures a pre-industrial rural landscape where local education was centered at the Slough School and regional transit relied on crossings like Long Bridge. The intricate contouring around the central peaks illustrates the complex drainage patterns that feed into Butte Slough, reflecting the area's natural hydrology before modern large-scale water management projects fully reshaped the valley floor. Settlement is concentrated in the small community of Sutter, while the surrounding terrain remains primarily defined by its unique geological topography.