1960 Map of Chowchilla

About this map

Chowchilla and the surrounding Central Valley agricultural landscape are defined here by a dense grid of numbered roads and irrigation infrastructure. The town center is organized around the Southern Pacific railroad line, featuring local institutions like Stephens Sch, Wilson Sch, and the County Fairgrounds. Beyond the town limits, the terrain is dominated by the complex water management systems of the San Joaquin Valley, including the Chowchilla River, Ash Slough, and Berenda Slough. Numerous lateral canals such as the Ashview Lateral A and Califa Lateral B crisscross the fields, supporting the dairy and crop operations that anchored the local economy. At the southern edge of the survey, the small community of Dairyland sits along the Berenda Slough, while landmarks like the Seventh Day Adventist Sch and the Chowchilla Cemetery provide important touchpoints for genealogical research in this 1960s-era landscape.