Loading map...

1948 Map of Nelson

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Nelson
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1988
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1988

About this map

Agricultural irrigation and rail transport define the landscape of this Central Valley region during the mid-20th century. The settlement of Nelson serves as a focal point, situated at the junction of Nelson Road and the Southern Pacific railroad line. To the north, the smaller rail stop at Esquon is positioned near the Sacramento Northern tracks, highlighting the era's reliance on twin rail corridors for moving crops and goods.

The complex water management system of the Aguas Frias land grant is evident through a network of man-made and natural features, including the Odell Canal, Western Canal, and the meandering Durham Slough. Water flows dominated by Butte Creek and Little Dry Creek are diverted through infrastructure like Whites Drain, illustrating how the dry plains were reclaimed for intensive farming. This map also preserves the official boundary between Butte Co and Glenn Co, marking the transition between these two prominent valley counties.