1951 Map of Richardson Springs

About this map

Richardson Springs sits at the foot of Cohasset Ridge, marking a distinct transition from the steep, creek-cut canyons of the Sierra Nevada foothills to the burgeoning urban sprawl of Chico. The landscape is defined by the drainage networks of Rock Creek, Keefer Creek, and Mud Creek, which flow southwest toward the Sacramento Valley. In the southern portion of the map, the 1969 revisions highlighted in purple show the rapid expansion of residential neighborhoods and educational facilities like Pleasant Valley High Sch and Marigold Sch as the city pushed northward. The extensive grounds of Bidwell Park follow the course of Big Chico Creek, preserving a massive corridor of open space that includes Horseshoe Lake and the Lindo Channel. To the northwest, the Chico Municipal Airport and Mud Creek Highway anchor the region's transportation infrastructure during this mid-century period of growth.