1896 Map of Mt. Diablo

About this map

Nortonville, Somersville, and Stewartville anchor the northern slopes of the peaks in this late-nineteenth-century landscape, highlighting an era when coal mining and rail transport drove the local economy. The Star Mine and the winding routes of the Empire R. R. and Pittsburg R. R. illustrate the industrial activity concentrated near Sidney Flat, while the settlement of Clayton sits at the base of the mountain's northern approach. The terrain is defined by the massive presence of Mt. Diablo and its North Peak, with the Mt. Diablo Base Line and Meridian serving as the fundamental surveying anchors for the region.