1956 Map of Chounet Ranch

About this map

The arid foothills and alluvial plains of western Fresno County are defined here by a series of steep drainages including Gres Canyon, Capita Canyon, and Dosados Canyon. In the mid-1950s, this landscape was primarily utilized for large-scale ranching operations, centered on the Chounet Ranch and Wood Ranch in the north. The rugged western terrain is punctuated by high points such as Nonada Hill and the survey station VABM Pandone, while the lower eastern half shows the early irrigation infrastructure of the Chaney Ranch Can. A single Prospect in the hills suggests early mineral exploration, while the layout of Russell Avenue and Panoche Road establishes the transportation framework connecting these remote ranch lands to the wider San Joaquin Valley.