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1948 Map of Railroad Flat

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Railroad Flat
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

Alabama Hill rises above the deep river canyons of the Mother Lode region in this late 1940s study. The landscape is defined by the complex drainages of the Middle Fork Mokelumne River and the North Fork Calaveras River, where the terrain's gold-bearing potential is evidenced by numerous workings like the Etna Mine, Wolverine Mine, and Jeff Davis Mine. Small communities such as Glencoe, Independence, and Railroad Flat anchor the road network, which includes the notable Ponderosa Way and Whiskey Slide Road.

The map captures a specific moment of transition for the area, featuring the Victory Dude Ranch alongside traditional mining sites and small family plots, including a Cem near Independence. The intricate network of gulches and creeks, such as Jesus Maria Creek and Wet Independence Gulch, illustrates the water-heavy infrastructure required for hydraulic and hard-rock mining operations that shaped this part of Calaveras County.