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1947 Map of Natividad

Name: 1947 Topographic Map of Natividad
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1948
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1948

About this map

The Gabilan Range rises sharply from the valley floor in this post-war survey of the Monterey County landscape. The mapping reflects a transition in land use, showing the footprint of Salinas Air Base (Abandoned) and a U S Army Radio Station (Abandoned) alongside the institutional presence of Hartnell College and Camp McCallum. Historical land divisions remain visible through the large ranch boundaries of La Natividad, Sausal, and El Alisal (Bernal).

Transportation corridors are anchored by the Southern Pacific railroad and the Old Stage Road, which skirts the base of the foothills. Water management is a central feature of the agricultural valley, evidenced by the courses of Gabilan Creek, Natividad Creek, and Alisal Slough. The proximity of the Salinas Municipal Airport to the older settlements of Natividad and Alisal highlights the mid-century intersection of traditional ranching roots and expanding regional infrastructure.