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1926 Map of Burris Park

Name: 1926 Topographic Map of Burris Park
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1926
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1926

About this map

The Laguna de Tache land grant area defines the central portion of this 1920s landscape, where the Kings River splits into a complex web of natural waterways and early irrigation infrastructure. The territory is defined by its water management, showing the intricate network of the Centerville and Kingsburg Canal, Peoples Ditch, and Riverside Ditch that sustained local agriculture. This era of development is marked by the presence of small local education centers like River Bend School, Oakvale School, and Excelsior School, which served the rural families of Kings and Tulare counties.

At the heart of the sheet lies Burris Park, situated along a bend in the river. The Southern Pacific Railroad cuts across the northeast corner, providing the vital link between these fertile fields and larger markets. The map captures the transitional landscape where natural features like Cole Slough and Mussel Slough exist alongside man-made improvements, illustrating the early 20th-century transformation of the San Joaquin Valley into a hydraulic agricultural powerhouse.