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1950 Map of Alpaugh

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Alpaugh
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1950
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1950

About this map

The town of Alpaugh anchors the southwest corner of this Tulare County landscape, reflecting a period of agricultural development in the San Joaquin Valley. The community is defined by a rigid grid of roads and irrigation infrastructure, notably the Homeland Canal, which is essential for managing water in this low-lying basin. Bisecting the territory from northwest to southeast, the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad serves as the primary artery for transit and shipping, connecting small rail stops that once dotted the countryside.

Linear settlements and loading points like Angiola, Spa, and Stoil are situated directly along the tracks, illustrating how the railroad dictated the placement of grain elevators and rural commerce. To the east, the meandering course of Elk Bayou provides a natural contrast to the geometric precision of the surrounding farmland. This map, based on topographic work by Bishop Moorhead, documents the transition of the valley floor into a highly managed hydraulic and rail-dependent economy.