1952 Map of Merritt

About this map

Davis and the burgeoning campus of the University of California anchor this mid-century portrait of Yolo County. The landscape is defined by the legacy of early Spanish land claims, including the Rio De Los Putos Grant and Los Putos Grant, which contrast with the rigid sectional geometry of the surrounding agricultural fields. Along the Southern Pacific rail line, the small settlement of Merritt and the Elston Spur reflect the area's rail-dependent logistics, while the presence of the University Airport and the Davis Winters Airstrip signal a transition toward modern aviation. Water management is central to this environment, with the complex drainage of Willow Slough and Dry Slough feeding toward Putah Creek. Purple revisions from 1968 highlight the northward and westward expansion of the city into West Davis, showing the early suburbanization of former ranch lands.