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1963 Map of Gravelly Ford

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Gravelly Ford
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1983
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1983

About this map

The San Joaquin River snakes through this Central Valley landscape, defining the boundary between Madera and Fresno counties. During the early 1960s, this region was characterized by an intricate network of irrigation and water management, evidenced by the Herndon Canal and the clearly marked Gravelly Ford Canal (Abandoned). The presence of Gravelly Ford Ranch near the riverbank suggests the long-standing agricultural importance of this riparian corridor.

Away from the water, the grid-based layout of rural avenues, such as Avenue 7 and Avenue 8, organizes the surrounding farmland. Education in these rural communities was anchored by the La Vina Sch in the north and Sunset Sch to the south. Scattered Gas Wells and numerous Duck Ponds indicate a landscape utilized for both energy extraction and seasonal wetlands, while seasonal flows like Cottonwood Creek feed into the primary river system.