1948 Map of Ranchito Canyon

About this map

Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties meet in this 1948 survey of a deeply etched drainage system. The terrain is dominated by a series of long, parallel valleys including Ranchito Canyon, Hog Canyon, and Beard Canyon. Settlement is sparse in this period, marked by isolated rural outposts and the Ellis Sch in the northeastern reaches. Throughout the landscape, numerous Windmills signify the reliance on groundwater to support the ranches scattered between Lowes Canyon and Ranch Canyon. The map reveals a highly specialized agricultural landscape where roads are limited to the canyon floors, following the natural contours of the Central Coast ranges.