1954 Map of Pennington

About this map

The Sutter Buttes dominate the southern landscape of this 1954 survey, rising sharply from the surrounding Sacramento Valley floor. This topographic study captures the area during a period of significant water management, evidenced by the extensive network of the Cherokee Canal and the Main Drainage Canal that define the agricultural grid. To the north, the Gray Lodge Waterfowl Management Area covers a large expanse of wetlands and managed ponds, with its Headquarters established among the lateral canals. Near the center, the small settlement of Pennington sits at the foot of the volcanic uplands, just east of the North Butte Cemetery. The map detail traces the transition from the rugged peaks and hidden recesses of Peace Valley to the precisely engineered almond orchards and county-line roads, such as Almond Orchard Rd, that characterize the Butte and Sutter county borderlands.