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1953 Map of Riverbank

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Riverbank
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1954
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1954

About this map

The Stanislaus River and Tuolumne River bracket this fertile agricultural landscape in the Central Valley, defined by a rigid grid of irrigation canals like Modesto Main Canal and Lateral No 6. Central to the industrial character of the era is the Riverbank Ordnance Plant, situated along the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad north of the burgeoning city of Modesto.

Genealogists and local historians can trace the mid-century development of neighborhoods around Empire and D'Accardo, alongside numerous local institutions such as John Sutter School, Wilson School, and Downey High School. The map captures a transition where traditional farming infrastructure, including the Hetch Hetchy Aquaeduct and numerous gaging stations, meets the expanding urban footprint of the county seat, complete with its Modesto Municipal Airport and Courthouse.