1924 Map of Mendota

About this map

The San Joaquin River winds through this central California landscape, defining the boundary between Madera and Fresno Counties. In the early 1920s, this region was characterized by large agricultural holdings and an intricate system of water management essential for valley life. Significant operations like Columbia Ranch, Aliso Ranch, and Pomona Ranch are shown alongside the infrastructure that supported them, including the Chowchilla Canal and Aliso Canal. Near the southern edge of the sheet, the town of Mendota serves as a local hub along the S P R R line. The terrain is marked by seasonal waterways and depressions such as Mowry Lake, Lone Willow Slough, and Fresno Slough, illustrating the natural hydrologic complexity of the basin before later twentieth-century modifications further altered the valley floor.