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Pittman Hill Road (Fresno County)

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Pittman Hill Road is a 5.6-mile rural highway located in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Fresno County.  The corridor spans from Watts Valley Road north to Tollhouse Road near Humphreys Station.  The roadway is named after nearby Pittman Hill which was the site of the Copper King Mine from 1900-1917.  Pittman Hill Road was built to service access to said mine via Sales Creek and provide connectivity to Tollhouse Road.  




Part 1; the history of Pittman Hill Road

Pittman Hill Road is named after a small peak in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Fresno County near Watts Valley.  The road would be constructed by 1900 to facilitate travel to the Copper King Mine which was located atop Pittman Hill.

The Copper King Mine was located on Sales Creek and had several shafts which were a combined length of 2,500 feet.  The Copper King Mine was one of numerous copper mines located in Fresno County and was worked until 1917.  The mine can be seen below circa 1900 in a photo sourced from the Eastern Fresno County Historical Society.  


Modern Pittman Hill Road can be seen on the 1911 Denny map of Fresno County.  The corridor can be seen in Township 12 South, Range 23 East originating at Watts Valley Road and terminating to the north at Tollhouse Road near the site of Humpherys Station.  The Copper King Mine can be seen branching to the east up Sales Creek. 


Pittman Hill Road can be seen on the 1935 Division of Highways map of Fresno County spanning from Watts Valley Road and California State Route 168 at Tollhouse Road.  




Part 2; a drive on Pittman Hill Road

Northbound Pittman Hill Road begins at Watts Valley Road.  From eastbound Watts Valley Road traffic accessing Pittman Hill continues straight.  


Pittman Hill Road ascends northbound and makes a right-hand turn at Sample Road. 










Pittman Hill Road continues northbound along the western flank of the namesake hill.  As the corridor ascends it passes Sales Creek Road which was once the access drive to the Copper King Mine. 



















Pittman Hill Road descends towards Dry Creek and terminates at Tollhouse Road near Humphreys Station.  











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