1961 Map of Berenda

About this map

The agricultural landscape of Madera County is defined here by a network of irrigation and transportation, including the Califa Canal and numerous laterals like Califa Lateral A. The parallel paths of Fairmead Boulevard and the Southern Pacific railroad corridor anchor the settlement of Fairmead, which shows significant development alongside the County Fairgrounds. To the southeast, the small rail siding of Berenda sits near the crossing of Berenda Creek, while Sharon is positioned along the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe line in the northeast. This 1961 survey, later updated in 1987, reveals the rural infrastructure essential to the Central Valley, from the Dixieland Sch and Grange Hall to specialized features like Storage Bins and a Weather Station. The drainage patterns of Slough and Dry Creek illustrate the natural hydrology that local water projects sought to manage.