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1956 Map of Panoche Valley

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Panoche Valley
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

Mercey Hot Springs serves as a distinct point of activity in this high-desert landscape, where the Panoche Valley meets the rugged transitions of the Panoche Hills and Griswold Hills. The map details a remote agricultural and mining corridor, following Panoche Road through settlements like Llanada and the Yturiarte ranch. The presence of the Panoche School and the Strohn Ranch south of Pimental Canyon suggests a sparse but established community of ranchers and miners.

Resource extraction is evident throughout the terrain, with the Mercey Mine to the north and the Juniper Mine and Le Grant Mine near the base of Glaucophane Ridge. These sites, alongside landmarks like Walker Peak and Panoche Mtn, reveal a landscape shaped by both geology and the practical needs of mid-century life in San Benito and Fresno counties. Water management is critical here, shown through various reservoirs and tanks along the ephemeral reaches of Panoche Creek and Bitterwater Creek.