1924 Map of Gravelly Ford

About this map

The San Joaquin River snakes through this Central Valley landscape, defining the boundary between Madera Co and Fresno Co. Surveyed shortly after the turn of the century, the map reveals an agricultural frontier transitioning from open range to irrigation-supported ranching. Significant local landholdings like the Bonita Ranch and Gravelly Ford Ranch are established near the water, while the Cottonwood Cow Camp sits to the north along Cottonwood Creek. The development of the Aliso Canal and Enterprise Canal indicates the early 20th-century push to manage water for expanded cultivation. Rural life is anchored by the Sunset School in the southeast, serving a community linked by a grid of early roads including Shepherd Avenue and Ashland Ave.