1915 Map of Owens Creek

About this map

Owens Creek meanders through the foothills of the central valley in this 1915 survey, marking a period when the border between Merced Co and Mariposa Co was defined by early transit routes and seasonal waterways. The terrain is dominated by the drainage systems of Bear Creek and Miles Creek, which intersect with established terrestrial paths like the Merced Road. One of the most significant historical features shown is the Old Miller and Stockton Road, a long-distance thoroughfare that speaks to the era’s regional connectivity before the modern highway system. Surveyed under the direction of R. B. Marshall and Geo. R. Davis, the map captures the precise topography of the drainage basins for Mariposa Creek and its neighbors at a time when the landscape was primarily shaped by cattle ranching and early California commerce.