1954 Map of Burrel

About this map

Helm Oil Field and the neighboring Lanare Oil Field define the mid-century industrial landscape of this Fresno County region, where petroleum extraction exists alongside a complex network of agricultural irrigation. The map reveals a highly engineered territory of ditches and sloughs, including the Liberty Millrace and Murphy Slough, which divert water across the San Joaquin Valley floor. Small rural settlements like Burrel and Lanare serve as local hubs along the Southern Pacific and Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad lines.