1926 Map of Burris Park

About this map

Kings River and its intricate network of irrigation channels dominate this Central Valley landscape in the mid-1920s. The map captures a transition in water management, where natural features like Cole Slough and Mussel Slough are integrated into an extensive system of man-made waterways including the Peoples Ditch, Lakeland Canal, and Settlers Ditch. This infrastructure supported the agricultural development of the Laguna De Tache land grant area. Local education and community hubs are visible through the locations of the River Bend School, Oakvale School, and Excelsior School, scattered across the rural countryside. Transportation in the region relied on the Southern Pacific Railroad and arterial roads such as Mt Whitney Avenue and Elkhorn Avenue, which connected these farming communities to nearby market centers. The proximity of Burris Park serves as a notable landmark within the meandering river bends.