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1956 Map of Sacramento

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Sacramento
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1956
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1956

About this map

The confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River anchors this regional study, which captures the Central Valley and the rising slopes of the Sierra Nevada during the mid-1950s. The urban sprawl of Sacramento is clearly visible, showing the early footprints of McClellan Air Force Base and Mather Air Force Base alongside the prominent State Capitol. To the west, the campus of the University of California, Davis sits at the edge of the agriculturally intensive Yolo County lands, while the southern reaches of the map detail the complex waterway networks of the Sacramento River delta and Suisun Bay.

Moving eastward, the terrain shifts abruptly from the flat valley floor to the foothills and high peaks of the Eldorado National Forest. Transport corridors like U.S. Highway 40 and the Southern Pacific Railroad trace the path toward Lake Tahoe, illustrating the vital connection between the valley's commerce and the high-altitude resources of the mountains. Regional water management is evidenced by the presence of the Pardee Reservoir and Salt Springs Reservoir, which provided critical infrastructure for the growing populations of Lodi and Roseville.