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1949 Map of North Bloomfield

Name: 1949 Topographic Map of North Bloomfield
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

Malakoff Diggings and other hydraulic mining sites dominate this 1949 survey of Nevada County, showing a landscape deeply altered by the quest for gold. The map centers on the high ridges between the South Fork Yuba River and Deer Creek, where historic settlements like North Bloomfield and North Columbia supported a massive industrial extraction effort. This era of water-powered mining is clearly etched into the terrain through an extensive network of infrastructure, including the Cascade Canal, various ditches, and flumes designed to move water across San Juan Ridge and Washington Ridge.

Away from the industrial diggings, the map documents a transition toward forestry and water management within the Tahoe National Forest. The presence of the Scotts Flat Reservoir and Mountain Girls Camp reflects a shifting economy, while local landmarks such as the Blue Tent School, Pioneer Grave, and family-named properties like Kirkham Ranch and Tull Ranch provide essential data for genealogists tracing the families of the Mother Lode.