1952 Map of Colusa

About this map

The city of Colusa sits against a sharp eastern bend of the Sacramento River, serving as a focal point for the surrounding Sacramento Valley agricultural lands during the mid-century. This 1952 survey documents a landscape defined by an intricate network of waterways and irrigation infrastructure, including the Irrigation Canal, Hopkins Slough, and Cheney Slough. The town's grid is well-established, featuring the Webster Union High Sch and the County Fairgrounds. Outside the urban center, the Colusa National Wildlife Refuge occupies a large portion of the southern terrain, where Powell Slough and various marshes provide a stark contrast to the surrounding gridded farm plots. Transportation is anchored by the Southern Pacific railroad line and localized aviation at the Colusa Airport, while smaller rural nodes like The Four Corners mark the intersections of the valley's straight-line road network.