1978 Map of Isleton

About this map

Ryer Island, Grand Island, and Andrus Island form a complex network of levees and waterways in the California Delta. This 1970s landscape is defined by its precarious relationship with water, where massive tracts of farmland like Tyler Island and Staten Island sit below sea level, protected by a continuous system of sloughs. The map documents the vital infrastructure of the era, from the Howard Landing Ferry and Delta Cross Channel to the expansive Rio Vista Gas Field. The historic riverfront settlements of Locke, Walnut Grove, and Isleton appear alongside the industrial footprint of the Southern Pacific railroad and numerous pumping stations, illustrating the delta's dual role as a critical agricultural hub and a center for resource extraction.