1949 Map of Hames Valley

About this map

Hames Valley and its surrounding canyons are captured here just after the war, illustrating a rural Monterey County landscape defined by seasonal drainages and livestock infrastructure. The eastern edge of the map is dominated by the Salinas River corridor, where the Southern Pacific railroad follows the riverbank, connecting this agricultural region to the broader California rail network. Settlement is sparse, anchored by the Hames Valley Hall in the southeast corner. The terrain is marked by numerous Windmill sites and water sources like Los Lobos Spr, which supported the ranching operations throughout Garrissere Canyon and Wincey Canyon. This 1949 field check reveals the historic land divisions of San Bernardo, showing how topographic features like Swain Valley dictated the development of local roads and property boundaries.