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1952 Map of Maxwell

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of Maxwell
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1953
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1953

About this map

The Southern Pacific railroad corridor serves as the primary spine for this agricultural landscape, connecting the small settlements of Maxwell and Delevan. In the early 1950s, the region's economy and layout are defined by an intricate network of irrigation and drainage infrastructure, most notably the Glenn-Colusa Canal and the Glenn-Colusa Levee. These man-made features work in tandem with natural waterways like Stone Corral Creek and Funks Creek to manage water across the northern reaches of the Colusa Basin.

Community life in Maxwell is centered around the Union Church, the local High School, and the nearby Maxwell Cemetery. In the northeast corner, the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge provides a preserved wetland environment that contrasts with the surrounding grid of farm roads, such as Wadleigh Road and Lenahan Road. This survey documents a critical period of hydraulic management and rural development in the Sacramento Valley.