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1954 Map of Moss Landing

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Moss Landing
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1980
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1980

About this map

The complex wetland systems of Elkhorn Slough and the Pajaro River meet the Pacific Ocean in this 1954 coastal survey, updated through 1980. The deep underwater canyon of Monterey Canyon is visible just offshore, a submarine feature that directly influences the area's rich marine ecology. On land, the map documents the transition between industrial and agricultural landscapes, showing the Power Plant at Moss Landing alongside the extensive rail infrastructure of the Southern Pacific railroad.

Genealogists and local researchers can locate specific sites such as the Castroville Moss Ldg Cem and Moss Landing Union School. The landscape is dominated by historical Mexican land grant boundaries, including Bolsa Nueva y Moro Cojo, which shaped the early development of Castroville and the surrounding sloughs. Salt ponds near Pauls Island and the intricate channels of McClusky Slough highlight the historic commercial and environmental character of the Monterey Bay shoreline.