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1956 Map of Palo Escrito Peak

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Palo Escrito Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1984
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1984

About this map

The Sierra De Salinas dominates the western half of this landscape, rising to prominent summits like Palo Escrito Peak and Paloma Mtn. The terrain transitions sharply from these high ridges down into the fertile valley floor where the Salinas River flows. This 1956 survey, with photorevisions from the early 1980s, reveals a complex layering of land tenure, including large historical tracts such as Ex Mission Soledad and Paraje De Sanchez, which contrast with the grid-like development of the valley floor.

Industrial and institutional footprints are visible along the Southern Pacific rail line, most notably the Soledad State Prison and the smaller clusters at Camphora and Molus. Local transportation is defined by established routes like Gloria Road and Foothill Road, which skirt the base of the mountains. This map serves as an important record of the agricultural and institutional development in Monterey County before further late-century expansion.