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1917 Map of Morgan Hill

Name: 1917 Topographic Map of Morgan Hill
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1941
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1941

About this map

The Santa Clara Valley unfolds as a productive agricultural and transit corridor in this 1915 survey. The Southern Pacific Railroad and the primary State Highway run parallel through the valley floor, connecting a string of settlements including Coyote, Madrone, Morgan Hill, San Martin, and Gilroy. These towns are anchored by the valley's distinct grid of ranch roads and property boundaries, such as those within Ojo de Agua de la Coche and San Francisco de las Llagas.

To the east, the landscape rises into the ridges of Los Huecos and La Polka, where deep canyons like Soda Springs Canyon lead toward Madrone Soda Springs. To the southwest, the Santa Cruz Mountains define the horizon, sheltering rural outposts like Redwood Retreat and Bradley's Store. Local education is well-represented by numerous one-room schoolhouses, including Adams School, Encinal School, and Manzanita School, reflecting the era's decentralized rural population before modern consolidation.