1949 Map of Espinosa Canyon

About this map

The Salinas River valley cuts through the northern corner of this Monterey County landscape, serving as a corridor for the Southern Pacific railroad. The terrain south of the river is defined by an intricate network of drainages and land grants, including the San Lucas and San Bernardo (Soberanes) divisions. High ridges are dissected by numerous named canyons, such as Feliz Canyon, Lordon Canyon, and Espinosa Canyon, which suggest a history of local land use and transit through this complex topography. Numerous windmills are scattered throughout the draws and flats, indicating the importance of groundwater for ranching and homesteads in the late 1940s. The map captures the meeting of the San Benito boundary with the rugged canyonlands, illustrating the transition from the fertile river basin to the upland cattle country of central California.