1898 Map of Silver City

About this map

Silver City and the Owyhee Mountains serve as the primary focus of this late nineteenth-century reconnaissance, documenting a period of intense mineral extraction and nascent transportation networks in southwest Idaho. The high-altitude mining district is densely detailed, featuring prominent operations such as the Black Jack Mine, Trade Dollar Mine, and Poorman Mine clustered around the settlements of Dewey and De Lamar. This industrial activity is contrasted by the drainage basin of the Snake River to the northeast, where river-dependent commerce is evidenced by the Warm Springs Ferry and Bernard Ferry. The arrival of the Boise Nampa and Owyhee railroad near Guffey and Walters marks the transition from rugged pack-trail dependence to integrated rail transport. The map also captures smaller peripheral locales like Reynolds and Murphy, which supported the livestock and logistics of the high desert interior.