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1956 Map of Paraiso Springs

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Paraiso Springs
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1974
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1974

About this map

The Paraiso Springs resort and the historic lands of the Ex Mission Soledad define this landscape on the western edge of the Salinas Valley during the mid-1950s. The map illustrates the sharp transition from the irrigated orchards and vineyards of the valley floor, where the Vineyard of Mission Soledad is located, to the steep canyons of the Sierra de Salinas. Settlements like Greenfield and the smaller Mission community are positioned near the braided channels of the Arroyo Seco, showing the agricultural grid of streets such as Cherry Avenue and Walnut Avenue.

In the uplands, numerous named drainages including Beeswax Canyon, Lowder Canyon, and Happy Valley reveal the intricate topography. Cultural landmarks such as the Los Coches Substation and an Airway Beacon provide evidence of the era's regional infrastructure. The presence of Pettits Peak and the deep Reliz Canyon south of the main valley floor highlights the geographic isolation of the high ridges above the fertile plains.