Loading map...

1948 Map of Fresno

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Fresno
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1948
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1948

About this map

Fresno serves as the focal point for this post-war landscape where the San Joaquin Valley meets the high peaks of the Sierra Nevada. The map highlights a complex network of agricultural irrigation and industrial growth, featuring the extensive Gould Canal and the Defense Plant Corporation site. Transportation is anchored by the dual presence of the Southern Pacific and Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroads, which linked small valley settlements like Navelencia, Calwa City, and Parlier to the broader regional economy.

Moving east, the terrain shifts abruptly into the deep canyons of Sequoia National Park and the Sierra National Forest. High altitude landmarks such as Mt Whitney and the Sixty Lake Basin dominate the eastern quadrant, contrasting with the disappearing waters of Tulare Lake in the southwest. Local history is preserved in names like Academy and Humphreys Station, alongside mining remnants such as the Fresno Copper Mine.