1893 Map of Placerville

About this map

Placerville and the surrounding gold country of the Sierra Nevada foothills are captured here in the late nineteenth century, showing a landscape defined by its mining heritage and river systems. The Sacramento and Placerville Railroad terminates at the county seat, while the complex drainages of the South Fork American River and the Cosumnes River organize the settlement patterns. This survey documents the transition from early placer camps to established industrial mining, evidenced by labels like Spanish Diggings, Mammoth Mine, and Henry Diggings. Remote outposts such as Grizzly Flat and Indian Diggings are connected by a network of early mountain roads and infrastructure, including the Mile Hill Toll House and various river crossings like Bakers Ford. The map also details early timber operations through several named sawmills, including Blair Saw Mill and Dyers Mill, situated along the high-elevation creeks.