1949 Map of Chico

About this map

The agricultural and academic heart of Northern California is captured here at mid-century, centered on the growing community of Chico. The city is anchored by the campus of Chico State College and surrounded by a network of suburban settlements such as Barber, Chapmantown, and Stirling Junction. Industry of the era is evident through the presence of the Match Factory and a sprawling rail system dominated by the Southern Pacific and Sacramento Northern lines. To the west, the Sacramento River meanders through a landscape of river islands including Phelan Island and Golden State Island. The survey details an intricate water system of sloughs and channels, such as Lindo Channel and Edgar Slough, which supported the surrounding orchards and farms near Durham and Dayton.