1955 Map of Chittenden

About this map

Gilroy and the historic site of Old Gilroy anchor the northern landscape of this mid-century survey, which reveals a complex convergence of rail and water infrastructure. The Southern Pacific railroad follows the path of the Pajaro River through the narrow Pajaro Gap, a critical transportation corridor linking the Santa Clara Valley to the coast. This geography is defined by the San Andreas Rift Zone and the adjacent Sargent Hills, where geological features like Soda Lake and Anzar Lake sit near the rugged tectonic boundary. The transition from the agricultural flats of Llano De Tequisquita to the rising elevations of Lomerias Muertas is marked by scattered industrial and educational sites, including Gavilan Junior College and several oil wells. Small settlements like Sargent and Chittenden illustrate the rural rail-stop economy that sustained these hills before modern expansion reached the region.