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1898 Map of Karquines

Name: 1898 Topographic Map of Karquines
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1898
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1898

About this map

Karquines Strait and the vast marshlands of Suisun Bay dominate this late-nineteenth-century landscape, capturing a vital maritime and industrial corridor. The map reveals the intricate network of sloughs and islands that define the northern reaches of the San Francisco Bay area, including Grizzly Island and Joice Island. On the southern shore, the strategic importance of Benicia is evident with the presence of the U.S. Arsenal at Army Pt., while the heavy industrial and transit hubs of Martinez, Port Costa, and Crockett line the waterfront.

Railroad development is at its peak here, with the Southern Pacific R. R. following the coastline and bridging the waters. To the west, the city of Vallejo and South Vallejo sit near the naval reservation, overlooking the strait. The inland terrain rises sharply toward Sulphur Springs Mt. and Elkhorn Peak, providing a stark contrast to the tidal flats and sloughs like Peytonia Slough and Cordelia Slough that lace the Suisun region.