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1949 Map of Placerville

Name: 1949 Topographic Map of Placerville
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1953
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1953

About this map

The gold-bearing foothills of El Dorado County are meticulously documented in this mid-century survey, centered on the historic hub of Placerville and the surrounding mining districts. The landscape is a network of ridges and ravines shaped by the search for quartz and placer gold, evidenced by the numerous operations like the Pyramid Mine, Vandalia Mine, and Starbright Mine. Small agricultural and mining communities such as Diamond Springs, El Dorado, and Fiddletown are shown connected by the Southern Pacific railroad and early mountain roads.

The map reveals an era when local education and community life were still decentralized, noting landmarks like the Green Valley School, French Creek Sch, and the Shingle Springs Indian Reservation. The complex drainage system of the South Fork American River and the three forks of the Cosumnes River define the local topography, highlighting the rugged terrain that once drew thousands of prospectors to these hillsides.