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1914 Map of Bethany

Name: 1914 Topographic Map of Bethany
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1914
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1914

About this map

The lowlands of the San Joaquin River delta meet the rising foothills near Bethany in this 1914 topographic survey. This landscape is defined by the complex aquatic network of Old River and Italian Slough, where reclaimed lands like Victoria Island and Union Island are protected by intricate embankments. The map captures a moment when the region relied on both waterborne transport at White House Landing and Bethany Ferry, and the expanding rail power of the Southern Pacific RR and the San Francisco and New Orleans Line.

Evidence of early agricultural development is everywhere, from the Grant Line Canal and Fabian and Bell Canal to the strategically placed Pumping Plant sites. Local life is anchored by the Lammersville School and the remote outpost of Mountain House near the Alameda County line. The transition from the marshy sloughs to the elevation of Brushy Creek illustrates the topographical challenges faced by early California engineers and settlers.