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1957 Map of Sacramento

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Sacramento
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1969
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1969

About this map

Sacramento serves as the central hub for this mid-century portrait of the Central Valley and the rising Sierra Nevada. The landscape is defined by the complex water management systems of the Sacramento River and American River, with the Yolo Bypass and Sutter Bypass visible as critical flood control infrastructure. The urban footprint of the era is clearly marked by major Cold War installations, including Mather Air Force Base, McClellan Air Force Base, and Travis Air Force Base, highlighting the region's strategic military importance.

Transportation networks are heavily represented by the Southern Pacific RR and Western Pacific RR, which connect the valley floor to the foothills and high peaks of the Eldorado National Forest. To the west, the Coast Ranges and Mt Diablo frame the Delta region, while to the east, the map traces the ascent toward Lake Tahoe. This era shows the proliferation of major reservoirs such as Folsom Lake and Camanche Reservoir, reflecting the massive infrastructure projects that shaped California's interior development.