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1948 Map of Nevada City

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Nevada City
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

The gold-bearing landscapes of Northern California are meticulously documented in this late 1940s survey. The San Juan Ridge dominates the northern half of the sheet, revealing the extensive legacy of hydraulic mining through labeled tailings and the Cherokee Diggings. The South Fork Yuba River carves through the center of the terrain, flanked by significant crossings like Purdon Crossing and Hoyt Crossing.

Settlement patterns center on the historic hub of Nevada City in the southeast, while smaller hamlets like North San Juan, Sweetland, and Newtown trace the movement of pioneers and miners. The map provides specific locations for family-held properties such as the Hilliard Ranch and Murphy Ranch, alongside industrial markers like the Daisy Blue Mine and Empress Mine. Water management for mining and agriculture is evident in the intricate network of the Excelsior Ditch and the South and Ready Ditch.