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1943 Map of Hernandez Valley

Name: 1943 Topographic Map of Hernandez Valley
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1948
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1948

About this map

Bitterwater Valley and the surrounding coastal ranges of San Benito County and Monterey County reveal a landscape defined by isolated ranching outposts and rugged canyons. The area is characterized by family-held land such as the Lew Smith Ranch and De Alvarez Ranch, while local education is anchored by the Bitterwater Tully Sch and Hernandez Sch. This 1941 survey captures the region just before mid-century modernization, where industry is limited to the Fire Flex Mine and an Oil Pumping Sta near the southern boundary.

The winding courses of the San Benito River and the Hernandez River dictate the settlement patterns, following the low ground between Mustang Ridge and Cottonwood Ridge. Genealogists can trace property locations along the Peachtree Valley and find landmark references like Lonoak and Gull Neck Rock. The complex topography of Syncline Divide and Augustine Canyon highlights the difficult terrain that kept this portion of the California interior relatively sparsely populated.