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1916 Map of Crows Landing

Name: 1916 Topographic Map of Crows Landing
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1916
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1916

About this map

The irrigated agricultural landscape of Stanislaus County is clearly visible in this 1914 survey, which depicts the transformation of former land grants like Rancho Del Puerto and Orestimba. The engineered layout of the Central Valley is evident in the dense network of Lateral ditches branching from the Main Canal, a system managed by the San Joaquin and Kings River Canal Company. This infrastructure contrasts sharply with the wandering, natural meanders of the San Joaquin River and its associated features like Pool and Slough.

Rail transport serves as the backbone for the settlements of Patterson and Crows Landing, both situated along the Southern Pacific (San Francisco and New Orleans Line). The map records a moment when the San Joaquin Valley’s economy was transitioning from cattle ranching to intensive farming, evidenced by the precise grid of irrigation and the proximity of these towns to seasonal waterways such as Salado Cr and Orestimba Creek.