1965 Map of Millerton Lake

About this map

The San Joaquin River corridor and its surrounding cattle country are depicted here in the mid-1960s, a landscape defined by the massive impoundment of Millerton Lake behind Friant Dam. This area represents a crossroads of ranching heritage and modern water management, where old family holdings like Veater Ranch, Housel Ranch, and Lewis Ranch sit adjacent to the expanding Millerton Lake State Recreation Area. In the north, the foothills are dotted with evidence of earlier industry and community, including the Quartz Mine near Quartz Mtn and quiet local landmarks like Picayune Cem. The presence of Spring Valley Sch and the community of O'Neals highlights the enduring rural infrastructure of Madera County during this period of transition from traditional mining and grazing toward a recreational and hydroelectric economy, as seen at Kerckhoff Lake.