1950 Map of Pixley

About this map

The Southern Pacific railroad corridor serves as the primary artery for these San Joaquin Valley agricultural centers, anchoring the growth of Pixley and Earlimart. This 1950 edition reflects a landscape organized by irrigation and rail transit, where the seasonal waters of Deer Creek and Deer Creek Slough are channeled through a rigid grid of ranch roads and township boundaries. The geometry of the valley is punctuated by several prominent thoroughfares, including Colony Road, Oakland Road, and Vineyard Road, which facilitated the movement of crops to the rail lines. Local researchers can examine the early layout of these townsites just after the mid-century, seeing the specific arrangement of buildings and siding tracks that supported the local fruit and vegetable packing industry.