1952 Map of Jersey Island

About this map

Jersey Island and the surrounding reclaimed delta lands are defined by an intricate network of levees and sloughs where the Sacramento River and San Joaquin River converge. This 1952 topographic survey reveals the complex hydraulic landscape of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, including the Montezuma Hills and the low-lying Brannan Island. The map records the early development of Bethel Island as a hub of delta life, accessed by Bethel Island Road and Sunset Drive. Settlement patterns are largely restricted to higher ground or protected tracts like the Webb Tract and Franks Tract. Marine navigation is central to the era, marked by features such as Santa Clara Shoal, Chinamans Cut, and Fishermans Cut. In the southern portion, the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad skirts the edge of Big Break and the mouth of Marsh Creek.