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1949 Map of North Bloomfield

Name: 1949 Topographic Map of North Bloomfield
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

San Juan Ridge and its adjacent gold mining history dominate this 1940s landscape, where the legacy of hydraulic operations is etched into the earth at the Malakoff Diggings. The map illustrates a complex network of water management essential for both mining and local life, featuring extensive ditches like the Snow Mountain Ditch and the Milton Ditch that traverse the ridges. Settlements such as North Bloomfield and North Columbia serve as historical anchors in a terrain defined by steep canyons and river bars along the South Fork Yuba River.

Southward, the creation of the Scotts Flat Reservoir on Deer Creek signals a shift toward modern water storage, while older landmarks like the Blue Tent School and Fivemile House highlight the community structure of the era. The presence of hard-rock operations such as the Murchie Mine and Hoge Mine alongside family-named sites like Kirkham Ranch provide a detailed view of Nevada County's mid-century rural and industrial composition.