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1963 Map of Bonita Ranch

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Bonita Ranch
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

Agricultural development and water management define this Central Valley landscape in the early 1960s. The meandering Fresno River and seasonal Dry Creek cut through a grid of rural roads, where the legacy of large-scale landholdings is evident at Bonita Ranch and El Peco Ranch. These ranching and farming operations are supported by a complex network of irrigation infrastructure, including the Gravelly Ford Canal and the Airport Ditch.

Small social hubs provide a window into the community's mid-century rural life, anchored by Howard Sch and the New Hope Cem. The presence of several Storage Bins and a Landing Strip underscores the industrial nature of local agriculture during this era. Farther south, Cottonwood Creek flows through a landscape marked by the small settlements of Bonita and El Peco, illustrating the pattern of isolated homesteads and ranch centers that characterized Madera County before late-century expansion.