1956 Map of Coit Ranch

About this map

The Coit Ranch and surrounding agricultural landscape of the San Joaquin Valley appear here in the mid-1950s, defined by a rigid grid of numbered sections and industrial-scale farming operations. This era of Fresno County history is marked by the proliferation of deep-water wells and reservoirs, which supported complex enterprises like the Vista del Llano Farm and Murietta Farm. The map documents the human infrastructure required for large-scale production, including a Labor Camp and several clusters of Grain Elevators and Grain Tanks. Central to the area's development is the Mendota Substation, indicating the expansion of electrical power into the Central Valley's rural districts. In the northeast corner, the fringes of Mendota are visible, featuring contemporary mid-century amenities such as a Drive-in Theater, providing a clear look at the region's mid-century economic and social layout.