1947 Map of Salinas

About this map

Salinas and the adjacent community of Alisal anchor this mid-century survey of the lower Salinas Valley, captured during a period of significant agricultural and institutional expansion. The map detail reflects a complex landscape where the industrial footprint of the Southern Pacific railroad meets the deep-rooted ranching history of the Salinas River basin. Of particular interest to local historians is the sugar beet industry's influence, centered around the company town of Spreckels, and the intricate system of sloughs like Alisal Slough and Buena Vista Slough that once defined the valley's drainage.