1918 Map of Berenda

About this map

Agricultural development and early rail corridors define this central valley landscape, surveyed during the tenure of State Engineer W. F. McClure. The grid of early property boundaries is centered on the State Highway and the Southern Pacific tracks, which together form the primary diagonal spine through the settlements of Fairmead, Califa, and Berenda. While the Southern Pacific (Raymond Br) diverges to the northeast, the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe line skirts the eastern edge near Sharon. Local infrastructure for the rural community is evidenced by the Munich School located to the south. The natural drainage of the region is characterized by the meandering path of Berenda Slough in the north and the ephemeral Dry Creek in the south, contrasting with the rigid geometry of the surrounding land parcels.