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1940 Map of Carquinez Strait

Name: 1940 Topographic Map of Carquinez Strait
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

The confluence of the Sacramento and San Joaquin river systems is dominated here by the deep-water passage of the Carquinez Strait and the marshlands of Suisun Bay. Industrial and maritime hubs like Vallejo, Benicia, and Martinez anchor the shorelines, connected by the Toll Bridge Carquinez Bridge and a network of Southern Pacific rail lines. The landscape transitions sharply from the rugged heights of Sulphur Springs Mountain to the intricate tidal sloughs surrounding Joice Island and Grizzly Island.

Tracing the northern shore reveals the railroad town of Suisun and the strategic location of the Benicia S R A Camp. Inland, the map captures the transition to agriculture around Rockville and Fairfield, while also noting local infrastructure like the Cordelia Sub Station and the Lake Herman Reservoir. The detailed depiction of sloughs, such as Peytonia Slough and Montezuma Slough, illustrates the complex hydrology of the delta before significant modern development altered these wetlands.