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1944 Map of Wilbur Springs

Name: 1944 Topographic Map of Wilbur Springs
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1948
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1948

About this map

Wilbur Springs serves as a focal point for this landscape along the border of Colusa and Lake Counties, where quicksilver mining once dominated the local economy. The southern reaches are densely marked with mineral claims, including the Abbott Mine, Mercury Mine, and the Wide Awake Mine, clustered near the intersection of Sulphur Creek and Grizzly Creek. This era of extractive industry contrasts with the surrounding agricultural and ranching terrain, seen at locations like Huffmaster Ranch and the settlement of Leesville to the north.

The topography is defined by the prominent Walker Ridge and Cortina Ridge, creating deep valleys such as Indian Valley and Bear Valley Creek. These corridors provided the necessary pathways for early travel between the Central Valley and the interior mountains. From the high peaks of Cooks Mtn and Baldy Mtn down to the drainage of Antelope Creek, the map details a region of isolated ranching outposts and specialized mining camps during the early 1940s.