Titled “Healdsburg Quadrangle,” this US Geological Survey map records a richly varied portion of Sonoma County as it stood in 1955, with a 1956 imprint reflecting its formal publication. At a scale of 1:24,000, it captures Healdsburg and its surrounding valleys with the precision that made the USGS quadrangle series indispensable to planners, geologists, engineers, and travelers. The map belongs to a postwar moment when California’s rural landscapes were being newly measured, connected, and transformed. Around Healdsburg, the interplay of river terraces, wooded ridges, agricultural flats, and emerging road networks is rendered with disciplined clarity, creating a mid-century portrait of a town poised between historic wine-country settlement and modern expansion.

The US Geological Survey, founded in 1879, became one of the great scientific cartographic institutions of the United States, tasked with mapping the nation’s terrain, minerals, water systems, and natural resources. Its topographic maps were not merely navigational tools; they were civic instruments, used to understand floodplains, watersheds, transportation corridors, and the physical logic of settlement. In the “Healdsburg Quadrangle,” that institutional rigor is evident in every contour, stream course, road alignment, and elevation mark. The map reflects the USGS ambition to create a consistent, scientifically grounded portrait of the American landscape—one quadrangle at a time—while also preserving the local character of Sonoma County’s valleys and hills in remarkable detail.

Healdsburg sits near the confluence of several defining northern California landscapes, and this map makes their relationships legible. The Russian River winds through the region as the central natural artery, shaping valley floors, agricultural lands, and settlement patterns. Dry Creek enters as another vital corridor, linking the town to the vine-growing country northwest of Healdsburg. Fitch Mountain rises prominently near the river, its rounded form and contour rings giving the map a strong topographic anchor. Nearby features such as McCarthy Creek, Healdsburg Ridge, Geyserville, and Alexander Valley evoke a landscape of creeks, slopes, and alluvial flats—places where geology, water, and human cultivation are closely intertwined.

Cartographically, the map is especially engaging for its combination of contour lines and color differentiation, which together reveal the region’s elevations, vegetation, and landforms. The hills are not abstractly named but visually built through rhythmic contour intervals, allowing the eye to trace ridges, draws, saddles, and drainage basins. Color bands and symbols distinguish the valley bottoms from more rugged uplands, emphasizing the contrast between settled agricultural corridors and wooded or elevated terrain. Roads, local tracks, and trails thread through the geography, while Highway 101 signals the growing importance of regional automobile travel. The result is both technical and elegant: a measured landscape with a strong sense of place.

As a historical document, the “Healdsburg Quadrangle” offers a valuable view of Sonoma County before later decades of suburban growth, vineyard expansion, infrastructure development, and changing land use. Comparing this mid-century survey with the contemporary landscape reveals how Healdsburg and its surrounding valleys evolved from a smaller agricultural and river-oriented community into part of a celebrated wine-country region. Features associated today with the broader area, including modern reservoirs and expanded transportation networks, underscore how dramatically the landscape would continue to change after 1955. Yet the fundamental geography remains: the Russian River, Dry Creek, Fitch Mountain, Alexander Valley, and the enclosing ridges still define the enduring structure of this remarkable California terrain.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Healdsburg
• Russian River
• Dry Creek
• Fitch Mountain
• Lake Sonoma
• McCarthy Creek
• Healdsburg Ridge
• Santa Rosa Creek
• Geyserville
• Alexander Valley
• Sonoma County Airport
• Highway 101
• Various local roads and trails

Historical context & cartographic details

• Produced by the US Geological Survey, this historical 1:24,000 topographical map shows Healdsburg, California, and the surrounding area.
• Dated 1955 and published with a 1956 imprint.
• The US Geological Survey has played a significant role in mapping and assessing natural resources in the United States since its establishment in 1879.
• The map features distinct color bands indicating elevation changes and vegetation.
• Contour lines provide a detailed view of the terrain.
• The topography emphasizes hills, valleys, and waterways typical of this part of California.
• The map reflects the geological and ecological characteristics of Healdsburg in the mid-20th century.
• Comparison with current maps may show later urban development and changes in land use over time.

Looking for a particular place? Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, ask our workshop to check before you order.

Detailed maps are especially rewarding at larger sizes, where names, boundaries and decorative features have more room to be appreciated. Use the close-up preview and size guide to choose the right scale for your wall.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.

Where personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. See personalised map examples.

Every piece is printed to museum-grade archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte paper. Choose an unframed map print, framed map or canvas using the finish options above. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.

With its rich detail and strong sense of place, this map makes a considered gift for a new home, anniversary, retirement or anyone with a personal connection to the area shown. Still deciding? Explore our collection of rare old and vintage maps to discover another place, period or style.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.