1946 Map of Bonita Ranch

About this map

The Fresno River and Dry Creek wind through this Central Valley landscape, defining the hydrological character of the region just after World War II. Large agricultural holdings such as Bonita Ranch and El Peco Ranch dominate the surveyed parcels, illustrating the established ranching culture of Madera County during this era. Evidence of changing water management practices is visible in the presence of the Gravelly Ford Canal (Abandoned), which suggests a shift in irrigation or land use by the mid-1940s. The terrain is marked by numerous Windmills used for groundwater extraction, a necessity for sustaining livestock and crops in this environment. Firebaugh Road serves as the primary east-west artery across the southern half of the quadrangle, connecting the various ranch operations and outlying fields. In the far south, Cottonwood Creek provides additional drainage in an otherwise arid expanse of rangeland and cultivation.