1918 Map of Bliss Ranch

About this map

Large-scale ranching and the early engineering of water rights define this Central Valley landscape during the early twentieth century. The boundary between Merced Co and Madera Co runs through the heart of the territory, with the sprawling Chowchilla Ranch and Bliss Ranch occupying significant portions of the terrain. The presence of the Baxter Feeding Canal and numerous scattered wells indicates the intensive effort to manage water for livestock and agriculture in an area otherwise dependent on intermittent drainage from the Chowchilla River and Ash Creek. Transportation in the region is anchored by the Merced and Los Banos Road, which cuts diagonally across the township lines, and the straight survey-aligned Lincoln Road, reflecting the transition from traditional trail-based routes to a rigid grid system.