Historical Resources
Index to Early Maps
The place names indexed on the Index to Early Maps can be found on the various maps listed in the Key to Index to Early Maps below. The place names are not inclusive of all the names on the maps, just the ones located in the greater Placer County area. Often times the full map is not included on our site. If you have a map that should be included, please send us a link: placerhistorical@gmail.com
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Key to Index to Early Maps
1848 Larkin – Map of the Valley of the Sacramento including the Gold Regions. A tracing of the map of Bidwell (Land Surveyor) by Thos. O. Larkin Esq. late Consul of the U. S. for California and by him stated to be the best for reference in California. Boston - Published by T. Wiley Jr. 20 State Street. www.davidrumsey.com
View Map 1848 Larkin
1848 Mason - Positions of the Upper and Lower Gold Mines on the South Fork of the American River, California – July 20th 1848. Robert B. Mason. www.phagalleries.com
1849 Derby – The Sacramento Valley from the American River to Butte Creek, Surveyed & Drawn by order of Gen’l Riley command – 10th Military Dep. By Lieut. Derby, Top Eng. September & October 1849. www.Raremaps.com
View Map 1849 Derby
View Map 1849 Derby - original
1849 Jarves - A Correct Map of the Bay of San Francisco and the Gold Region. From actual Survey June 20th 1849 for J. J. Jarves. Published by James Munroe & Co. 134 Washington St. Boston. www.raremaps.com
1849 Jefferson – Map of the Emigrant Road – Independence Mo. To San Francisco, California. T. H. Jefferson. New York 1849. Part IV. www.loc.gov/resources
1849 Lawson – Lawson’s Map from Actual Survey Gold, Silver, Quicksilver Regions of Upper California. By J. T. Lawson Esq.1849. www.archive.org
View map 1849 Lawson's Map
1849 Wyld - Map of the Gold Regions of California compiled from original Surveys by James Wyld. 1849. www.loc.gov/resources
1850 Ellis – Map of the Gold Region of California taken from a recent survey by Robert H. Ellis – 1850. www.raremaps.com
View map 1850 Ellis
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1850 Jackson – Map of the Mining District of California by Wm. A. Jackson –almost an exact copy of the Ellis map. Raremaps.com
View map 1850 Jackson
1851 Gibbes – A New Map of the Gold Region in California by Charles Drayton Gibbes from his own and other recent surveys & Explorations. 1851 Stockton, Cal. Sherman & Smith New York. Raremaps.com
View map 1851 Gibbes
1853 Williamson – Explorations and Surveys for a R.R. Route from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. – Geological Map of a Part of the State of California explored in 1853 by Lieut. R. S. Williams U. S. Top Eng. Raremaps.com
View map1853 Williamson
1857 Robinson - ??? of S. V. R. R. Extension – Sacramento Valley Railroad - San Francisco. September 1857 – J. P. Robinson. Chief Engineer. insuremekevin.com
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1861 SP & N RR – Sacramento, Placer & Nevada Railroad – 1st or Lower Division Plan - J. P. Robinson, Chief Engineer – August 1861.insuremekevin.com
1864 CPRR – Map showing the Location of the First Division of the Central Pacific RR of Cal. February 1864, Sam S. Montague Res. And Acting Chief Engineer. Unknown location.
1866 Alvord – Gold Mines and Property – C. A. Alvord 1866. Unknown location.
1868 Doolittle – Township and County Map of the Central part of California – drawn and published by A. J. Doolittle 1868. www.archive.org
View map 1868 Doolittle Pt. 1
View map 1868 Doolittle Pt. 26 AM
1910 Arrowsmith – Map of the American River and Natoma Water and Mining Company’s Canals. P. T. Arrowsmith C.E. 1910. www.internetarchive.org
View map 1910 Arrowsmith
1948 Coy – Map of a Portion of the California Gold Region of California during the 1848 Gold Rush. Owen C. Coy. California State Historical Association. 1948. (source) www.geographicus.com
View map 1948 Coy Pt. 1
View map 1948 Coy Pt. 2
View map 1948 Coy Pt. 3
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Additional Maps of Interest not included in the Index
The maps listed below are being added. Check back soon!
1870 Map of Post Office Locations 1852-Present
1891 USGS map
1907 map 1
Auburn map circa 1925
Dutch Flat Gold Run
Gold Discovery Site 1
Hoffmann Tract Map
Huntley Tract
Los Alto subdivision
Old Town Auburn - label photo
Sac Nevada Placer RR
Virginiatown 1860 Map​​