1946 Map of Le Grand

About this map

Agricultural development in the San Joaquin Valley is defined by a dense network of sloughs and man-made infrastructure in this mid-century survey. The landscape is anchored by the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe and Southern Pacific railroads, which facilitated the growth of shipping points like Le Grand and Chowchilla. While the foothills of the Sierra Nevada rise in the northeast near the Merced and Madera County line, the valley floor is characterized by an intricate drainage system including the Chowchilla River, Ash Slough, and Berenda Slough. Rural life is centered around local institutions such as the Dixieland School and small settlements like Fairmead and Sharon. The mapping reflects a transition from early 20th-century topography to post-war land use, with numerous Windmills and a developing network of county thoroughfares like Jefferson Road and Buchanan Hollow Road supporting the region's expanding farm economy.