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1956 Map of Firebaugh

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Firebaugh
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

Firebaugh and Mendota anchor this mid-century portrait of Central Valley agriculture, where the Southern Pacific railroad corridor dictates the placement of settlements and grain infrastructure. The landscape is defined by a dense network of irrigation, featuring the San Joaquin River and the engineered Delta-Mendota Canal, along with several lift canals that transformed this terrain into productive ranch land.

Tracing family roots in this region reveals a series of localized community hubs, from the small Cem near the river to various schoolhouses including Mills Sch, Riverside Sch, and Los Deltos Sch. The map documents numerous specialized agricultural sites like Los Deltos Ranch, Eastside Ranch, and several Labor Camps, alongside industrial markers such as an Oil Tanks Pumping Sta and a Sand Pit. This survey captures the height of the river-and-rail economy before modern consolidation altered many of these smaller rural landmarks.