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1922 Map of Delta Ranch

Name: 1922 Topographic Map of Delta Ranch
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1922
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1922

About this map

San Juan De Santa Rita land grant territory dominates this 1916 survey, showcasing the early agricultural development of Merced County before modern large-scale irrigation reshaped the Central Valley. The landscape is defined by the winding course of the San Joaquin River and its intricate network of waterways, including Poso Slough, Pick Anderson Slough, and Santa Rita Slough. These natural channels provided critical drainage and water access for the early large holdings such as Delta Ranch, Midway Ranch, and the Arroyo Farm.

Transportation in the region at this time relied on the primary Los Banos and Merced Road, while the presence of the Old Southern Pacific Grade near the southern boundary points to shifting rail priorities in the early twentieth century. Small outposts like Lone Tree Camp and the settlement at San Juan offer genealogical touchpoints for families tied to these specific ranching operations during the era of State Engineer W. F. McClure.