1947 Map of Plainsburg

About this map

Plainsburg and its surrounding agricultural plains are defined by an intricate network of waterways and the twin steel spines of the San Joaquin Valley’s major railroads. This landscape, surveyed under the direction of State Engineer Edward Hyatt, reveals a transition from the drainage sloughs of the north, including North Slough and South Slough, to the irrigation-critical Chowchilla River and Old Chowchilla Creek in the south. The proximity of the Southern Pacific and the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe lines underscores the region's mid-century reliance on rail for moving goods from settlements like Athlone and Minturn. Local life is anchored by small community centers such as the Savana Sch and the Athlone Airport, while the Merced and Madera county line cuts across the southern reach of the quadrangle near Sierra Vista.