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1962 Map of Merced

Name: 1962 Topographic Map of Merced
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1963
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1963

About this map

Merced sits at the heart of this agricultural and transportation corridor in the early 1960s, a landscape defined by the intersection of the Southern Pacific and the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroads. The city's expansion is visible in its collection of mid-century institutions, including El Capitan High Sch and Evergreen Sch, while the surrounding plains are punctuated by small rail-side settlements like Planada, Tuttle, and Kadota.

The hydrology of the Central Valley is well-documented here, showing the complex system of canals and sloughs, such as Duck Slough and Main Canal, that sustain the local orchards. To the northeast, the terrain rises into the Sierra foothills, marked by distinctive peaks like China Hat and Haystack Mtn. Notable landmarks include Yosemite Lake (County Park) and various rural airfields like the Calpack Airstrip, illustrating the era's blend of recreation and industrial agriculture.