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1950 Map of Scotia

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Scotia
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

The Eel River and Mattole River define the winding, mountainous geography of southern Humboldt County in this 1950 field-checked survey. The lumber town of Scotia and neighboring Rio Dell serve as the primary hubs of activity, linked by the Northwestern Pacific railroad corridor which follows the river's bend toward Stafford and Elinor. Beyond the river valleys, the landscape is defined by massive ridges, including Bear River Ridge and Rainbow Ridge, with Mt Pierce and South Rainbow Peak as prominent anchors.

Evidence of established land use appears through numerous named family homesteads such as McClellan Ranch and Barbettini Ranch. The southern reach of the map reveals the educational and environmental character of the era, from the remote Upper Mattole School near Prickett Creek to the protected groves of Humboldt Redwoods State Park. Surveyors also noted the precision of the Humboldt Base Line and Humboldt Meridian, which intersect near Monument Ridge.