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1952 Map of Gridley

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of Gridley
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

Feather River corridors and intensive irrigation canals define this landscape of the Sacramento Valley, documented here following a mid-century remapping. The map illustrates a region heavily shaped by industrial gold mining and agriculture, most notably in the sprawling Dredge Tailings south of Thermalito and near South Oroville. These massive mounds of gravel and stone are remnants of the dredging era that fundamentally altered the river's path and the surrounding terrain.

Rural life is anchored by established towns like Gridley and Biggs, as well as numerous smaller agricultural hubs and family-named landmarks. The map tracks the vital infrastructure of the time, from the Pacific Southern rail line to the intricate network of the Butte Canal and Hamilton Canal. Local social history is visible in the locations of the Manzanita School, Live Oak Cemetery, and the County Fairgrounds, alongside smaller settlements like Honcut and Peachton that supported the surrounding orchards and ranches.