Napa County, California - 1895 Official Map
Napa County, California - 1895 Official Map
Experience Napa Valley at the dawn of its wine industry with this stunning 1895 official county map compiled by O.H. Buckman and published by Punnett Brothers. Hand-colored to distinguish townships and land ownership, this detailed cadastral map documents Napa County during the formative years of California wine country—showing the ranchos, vineyards, roads, and property boundaries that laid the foundation for what would become America's premier wine region.
Wine Country Taking Root
This beautifully hand-colored map reveals Napa County's complete geography and land ownership patterns in 1895. Each township is rendered in distinctive colors, with property lines clearly delineated showing individual land holdings, ranchos from the Spanish and Mexican eras, and the emerging vineyard estates that would define the region. The map displays the Napa River winding through the valley, roads connecting the scattered communities, railroad lines bringing commerce and visitors, and school districts serving the growing population. An inset map details the City of Napa, the county seat. Relief shading captures the dramatic terrain—the valley floor flanked by mountain ranges on both sides, creating the unique microclimate perfect for viticulture. By 1895, Napa Valley's wine industry was already established, with dozens of wineries producing wines that had won international recognition at the 1889 Paris Exposition, but the region still retained its agricultural character with vast open spaces awaiting development.
Historical Significance
The 1895 Napa County captured in this official map represents a pivotal moment in California wine history. Commercial wine production in Napa Valley had begun in earnest in the 1860s-1870s, with pioneers like Charles Krug, Jacob Schram, and Gustave Niebaum establishing wineries that still operate today. By 1895, Napa wines were gaining international acclaim, but the industry faced its greatest challenge ahead—phylloxera devastation in the late 1890s would destroy most vineyards, forcing replanting and modernization. This map preserves Napa County before that crisis, showing the original vineyard plantings and property divisions that established the wine industry's geographic foundation. The land ownership patterns, rancho boundaries, and township divisions visible on this map shaped development for generations. Approved by the Board of Supervisors on January 21, 1895, this official document served as the authoritative record of property boundaries and civic organization for a county transforming from diverse agriculture into the world-renowned wine region it would become in the 20th century.
Museum-Quality Reproduction
This is a high-quality reproduction of the original 1895 hand-colored official map, professionally printed using museum-grade methods and materials to preserve every detail and color of this beautiful cadastral document.
Perfect For:
- Wine enthusiasts and Napa Valley residents
- Collectors of California history and wine country heritage
- Displaying in wine cellars, tasting rooms, and wineries
- Students of viticulture and agricultural history
- Gift-giving for wine lovers and California natives
Specifications:
- Original Publication: 1895
- Title: Official map of the County of Napa, California
- Compiled by: O.H. Buckman
- Publisher: Punnett Brothers, San Francisco
- Approved: Board of Supervisors, January 21, 1895
- Style: Hand-colored cadastral/land ownership map
- Features: Township divisions, land ownership, ranchos, roads, railroads, drainage, school districts
- Inset: City of Napa
- Historical Context: Napa Valley wine industry in its formative era
- Product Type: High-Quality Reproduction Print
Dimensions (Width x Height): 21.3 x 30
Each map is printed using the finest materials and methods. Your map will be handled with white gloves from start to finish. We use the Giclee printing method on Hahnemuhle paper, which produces a clear, extremely detailed, durable map that is perfect to be proudly displayed in your home or office.
Digital watermark does not appear on your purchased map.
