Loading map...

1955 Map of Chittenden

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Chittenden
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1969
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1969

About this map

Sargent Oil Fields and the complex drainage of the Pajaro River define this corner of the Santa Clara Valley during the mid-20th century. The landscape is a mix of agricultural enterprise and industrial extraction, where the Southern Pacific railroad follows the river through the narrow Chittenden Pass and Pajaro Gap. Near the southern edge of Gilroy, the recently developed Gavilan Junior College campus appears alongside historic routes like Frazier Lake Road and Bloomfield Ave.

The geological transition between the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Sargent Hills is marked by unique hydrological features, including the saline waters of Soda Lake and the marshy Miller Slough. In the south, the Aromitas Rift and Lomerias Muertas overlook the San Juan Valley, while small ranching settlements like River Oaks and Sargent cluster near the rail line. This survey captures a moment when traditional land grants such as Salsipuedes and San Ysidro were integrating with modern infrastructure and expanding educational institutions.