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1948 Map of West Point

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of West Point
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1960
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1960

About this map

West Point and the surrounding gold-country uplands are captured here during the late 1940s, a period when the regional economy transitioned between its mining heritage and modern utility infrastructure. The landscape is defined by the deep canyons of the North Fork Mokelumne River and the Middle Fork Mokelumne River, which dictated the placement of critical water systems like the Electra Tunnel and the Lower Standard Canal.

Hard-rock mining remains a visible legacy across the terrain, with labels marking the Amador Columbia Mine, Yellow Aster Mine, and Black Prince Mine. Local life centers on established settlements such as Wilseyville, Sandy Gulch, and the curiously named Bummerville. This survey provides a precise record of these communities and their connection to the high-elevation water works, including the West Point Power House, just before mid-century developments further altered the foothills of the Sierra Nevada.