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1958 Map of El Centro

Name: 1958 Topographic Map of El Centro
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1978
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1978

About this map

The Imperial Valley dominates this 1950s perspective of the California-Arizona borderlands, showing a complex hydraulic landscape where the All American Canal and Coachella Canal transformed the desert into a productive agricultural hub. Regional centers like El Centro, Brawley, and Calexico are depicted alongside the intricate web of laterals and canals, such as the Wistaria Lateral, that define the valley's settlement patterns. This revised edition captures the area just before significant suburban expansion, while the presence of the Naval Air Facility and Imperial County Airport highlights the region's mid-century strategic and transportation importance.

To the east, the arid geography of the Sand Hills and Yuma Desert provides a stark contrast to the irrigated fields. The Colorado River serves as the vital artery between the two states, with Yuma standing as a principal gateway. Military and conservation interests are well-represented by the Yuma Proving Ground and the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, illustrating the diverse land use in the Sonoran Desert. For those interested in regional history, the map preserves the locations of numerous small sidings and communities along the Southern Pacific and San Diego and Arizona Eastern railroads.