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1955 Map of Chittenden

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Chittenden
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1966
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1966

About this map

Old Gilroy and the southern reaches of the Santa Clara Valley define this mid-century landscape where the Southern Pacific railroad tracks follow the natural corridors of the Pajaro River and the San Benito River. The geography is dictated by the convergence of the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Sargent Hills, creating vital transit points like Pajaro Gap and Chittenden Pass. These narrow gateways served as the primary conduits for rail and road traffic moving toward the coast.

Industrial activity is evident near the settlement of Chittenden, where Quarry Lake and a Gravel Pit indicate the extraction of local resources. To the southeast, the Lomerias Muertas rise above the river valley, dotted with oil wells. Smaller whistle-stops and junctions such as Sargent, Corporal, and Miller trace the historic rail line, while local landmarks like Christmas Hill and Soda Lake provide specific points of reference for genealogists and local historians tracking land use and settlement patterns in the 1950s.