1952 Map of Courtland

About this map

The Sacramento River carves a deep commercial and agricultural path through this California delta landscape, where intricate levee systems like the Netherlands Levee protect productive island tracts. Central to the region is Courtland, a hub defined by its proximity to the water and the complex network of distributaries including Sutter Slough and Steamboat Slough. The map reveals the critical infrastructure of the early 1950s, from the Southern Pacific rail line running near Stone Lake to the various pumps and tide gages required to manage the low-lying terrain of Grand Island and Merritt Island. Small riverfront settlements like Locke and Paintersville are visible, reflecting the historic reliance on the river for transport and trade. This survey, based on aerial photography from 1931 and remapped in 1952, documents the era before massive modern water projects further altered the delta's natural hydrology.