1945 Map of Iris

About this map

Coachella Canal and the Southern Pacific railroad corridor define the rigid transition from desert to irrigated agriculture in this Imperial County landscape. To the east, the Sand Hills and Chocolate Mountains remain largely undeveloped, punctuated only by isolated landmarks like Pegleg, Barth Well, and Hayden Well. To the west, a highly engineered grid of irrigation channels including the East Side Main Canal and the Central Canal supports a series of small outposts and agricultural hubs. The map reveals a systematic naming convention for these waterways, with alphabetical laterals and canals named for plants and trees, such as the Nectarine Canal and Mulberry Canal. Small settlements and rail stops like Flowing Well, Iris, Tortuga, and Amos trace the path of the railroad as it skirts the edge of the East Mesa, while Wiest Lake and the Alamo River provide rare permanent water features in the valley floor.