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1948 Map of Chico

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Chico
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1971
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1971

About this map

Chico serves as the primary urban center for this mid-century survey, showcasing a dense grid of streets and institutional landmarks including Chico State College and the Diamond Match Factory. The town's layout is defined by the winding course of Big Chico Creek and the expansive Bidwell Park, which provides a natural corridor through the residential blocks. To the south, the landscape transitions into an agricultural and industrial plain, marked by the presence of Barber, Chapmantown, and the railroad hub at Stirling Junction.

Irrigation infrastructure is prominent across the southern valley floor, with the Crouch Ditch and Mesa Ditch supporting the orchards and fields surrounding Durham. The industrial legacy of the region is visible in the large areas of Tailings near the Southern Pacific tracks and the specialized US Dept of Agriculture Plant Introduction Garden. This survey provides a clear view of the relationship between the growing city and its surrounding resource-based economy.