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1951 Map of Richardson Springs

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Richardson Springs
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

Richardson Springs sits at the edge of the foothills where the volcanic slopes of Cohasset Ridge meet the northern Sacramento Valley. This map, based on 1951 surveys with 1969 urban updates, reveals the northward expansion of Chico as it began to encompass old agricultural lands and orchards. The transition from the rugged drainage of Iron Canyon Creek and Mud Creek to the organized street grids of the valley floor is punctuated by the presence of the Chico Municipal Airport and sprawling parklands.

Local history is well-preserved along the banks of Big Chico Creek within Bidwell Park, where Horseshoe Lake and various footbridges are noted. The document records a growing community through its educational infrastructure, including McManus Sch, Bidwell Jr HS, and Pleasant Valley High Sch. The intricate network of irrigation and flood control is visible through Keefer Slough and the Lindo Channel, which define the hydrological character of this portion of Butte County.