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1961 Map of Merced

Name: 1961 Topographic Map of Merced
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1987
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1987

About this map

Merced stands at the intersection of major transportation corridors in the mid-20th century, defined by the parallel tracks of the Southern Pacific and the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroads. The town's growth is visible through the expansion of residential blocks and educational institutions like Merced College and El Capitan High Sch. Beyond the urban core, the landscape transitions into a complex hydraulic network of canals, including the Fairfield Canal and Le Grand Canal, which support the surrounding agricultural fields.

Water management is central to the area's development, anchored by Yosemite Lake to the north and various irrigation structures like Miles Creek Dam and Monnett Dam. Local history is preserved in the location of the Evergreen Cem and Calvary Cem, while the outlying areas like Tuttle and Kadota show the smaller hubs that punctuated the rail lines. The terrain is marked by seasonal waterways such as Duck Slough and Snake Slough, illustrating the natural drainage patterns of the San Joaquin Valley before intensive modernization.