1944 Map of Richardson Springs

About this map

Chico Army Flying School and the US Auxiliary Field anchor the landscape of this wartime survey, which captures the transition from the flat agricultural basins of the Sacramento Valley to the volcanic foothills. The Southern Pacific railroad line runs through the valley floor, connecting the small rail settlements of Nord and Cana. The eastern half of the map is defined by the steep drainage systems of Keefer Ridge and Steamboat Ridge, where numerous family-named landmarks like McKenzie Ranch, Franks Cabin, and Stephens Ranch illustrate the era's ranching and homesteading patterns.