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1948 Map of Nelson

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Nelson
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

Agricultural development and hydraulic management define this landscape in Butte County during the late 1940s. The settlement of Nelson serves as a local hub along the Southern Pacific railroad, which cuts a straight line through the valley floor. The map illustrates a complex network of irrigation and drainage essential to the region's farming economy, featuring the Western Canal, Odell Canal, and Whites Drain. These man-made waterways interlace with natural features like Butte Creek and Durham Slough.

To the north, the small siding of Esquon sits near the winding path of Dry Creek. The survey also highlights the boundary between Butte County and Glenn County in the southwest corner, while the Grant Bdy lines suggest the enduring influence of early California land grants on modern property divisions. Local transit is facilitated by a grid of rural routes including Nelson Road, Watt Road, and Goodspeed Road.