1954 Map of Prunedale

About this map

Elkhorn Slough and the winding coastal wetlands of Monterey County define this mid-century landscape, where the Southern Pacific railroad cuts through the lowlands near Castroville. The map illustrates a complex network of agricultural and ranching land partitioned by historic land grants like Bolsa Nueva y Moro Cojo and Bolsa de las Lomas. Small settlements such as Prunedale and Hall are connected by a web of canyon roads, including San Miguel Canyon Road and Carpenteria Road, which trace the narrow valleys of the coastal range. This 1950s survey captures the area before modern coastal development, showing numerous windmills and water tanks scattered across the foothills and sloughs like Moro Cojo Slough and Tembladero Slough, indicating the intensive groundwater management required for the region's farming economy.