1956 Map of Niland

About this map

Carbon Dioxide Wells and unique mud pots dot the shoreline of the Salton Sea, which sat at an elevation of 235 feet below sea level at the time of this mid-century survey. The landscape is defined by an intricate irrigation and drainage grid designed to tame the Imperial Valley, with dozens of channels like the Vail Lateral and H Lateral feeding into the Alamo River. Significant land is dedicated to conservation, including the Wister Waterfowl Management Area and the Salton Sea Natl Wildlife Refuge. The Southern Pacific railroad corridor serves as the spine for the settlements of Niland and Calipatria, where the Calipatria Airport and Fremont Sch are primary landmarks. This map details a highly engineered agricultural and industrial environment where pumice and gas extraction coexist with wildlife management and small-town growth.