1948 Map of Chico

About this map

Chico State College and the industrial hub of the Diamond Match Factory anchor this landscape during a period of significant post-war expansion. This survey captures the core of Chico alongside its established neighborhoods and outlying settlements like Chapmantown, Barber, and Stirling Junction. The geography is defined by the waterways of Big Chico Creek and Lindo Channel, which pass through the extensive grounds of Bidwell Park. Evidence of the region’s agricultural and scientific roots is visible at the US Dept of Agriculture Plant Introduction Garden and the nearby Peterson Chico Airport. In the south, the community of Durham sits along the Southern Pacific railroad line, surrounded by the large land grants of Rancho Esquon and Aguas Frias. The map also records early leisure and infrastructure, including a drive-in theater and the Durham Highway.