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1944 Map of Calipatria

Name: 1944 Topographic Map of Calipatria
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

The Salton Sea dominates the northwest corner of this Imperial County landscape, its 1940s shoreline defined by a vast Migratory Bird Refuge and geologic curiosities like Mud Pots and Obsidian Butte. This era captures a highly engineered agricultural basin where the Alamo River and New River are supplemented by an intricate network of irrigation works, including the Central Main Canal and Trifolium Main Canal. The presence of Dry Ice Wells near Mullet Island highlights a unique local industry of the period.

Agricultural settlements and rail sidings like Niland, Calipatria, and Westmorland serve as hubs for the surrounding farm blocks and ranches. Local education and community life are marked by the North End School and Trifolium School. Transportation is anchored by the Southern Pacific railroad and U.S. Route 99, facilitating the movement of goods and people through this reclaimed desert environment.