1929 Map of Alpaugh

About this map

Alpaugh serves as the primary hub of this 1920s agricultural landscape, situated at the southern end of a geometric grid of roads and irrigation infrastructure. The territory is defined by the rigid diagonal of the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad, which dictates the placement of several small sidings and loading points such as Angiola, Spa, and Stoil. These settlements illustrate the rail-dependent economy of the San Joaquin Valley during the interwar period, where transport was essential for moving local produce. Drainage and water management are prominent through features like the Homeland Canal and the meandering path of Elk Bayou to the east. The survey reveals a landscape in transition, where natural watercourses like the bayou intersect with an increasingly engineered environment designed for large-scale cultivation.