1922 Map of Ortigalita

About this map

Los Banos Creek carves a deep winding path through the northern hills of this 1919 survey, defining a landscape of complex drainage systems in Merced County. The terrain is dominated by the massive land grant of Panoche de San Juan y Los Carrisalitos, where the rugged contours drop toward Ortigalita Creek and Salt Creek. Early infrastructure in this cattle-and-oil country is sparse but significant, featuring a remote Oil Pumping Station in the northeast and the isolated Ortigalita School to the south. The presence of Carrisalito Spring highlights the critical importance of reliable water sources in this arid stretch of the Inner Coast Ranges, where numerous seasonal branches like Piedra Azul Cr and Carrisalito Creek converge toward the valley floor.