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1917 Map of San Juan Bautista

Name: 1917 Topographic Map of San Juan Bautista
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1917
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1917

About this map

Mission San Juan Bautista anchors this 1915 survey of the Central Coast, where the valleys of Santa Clara, San Benito, and Monterey counties converge. The landscape is defined by large historical land grants including Las Animas, Salsipuedes, and Los Carneros, reflecting the area's deep Spanish and Mexican heritage. The Southern Pacific railroad corridor serves as a vital artery, connecting agricultural hubs like Watsonville and Aromas while navigating the dramatic Pajaro Gap alongside the Pajaro River.

Rural life in the early twentieth century is meticulously documented through numerous country schools, such as Casserly School, Carnadero School, and Prunedale School. Industrial and social landmarks are equally prominent, from the Cement Works near the mission to the St Francis Orphan Asylum near Kelly Lake. The complex hydrology of the region is clear in the winding Elkhorn Slough and the Millers Canal system, which transformed these ranchlands into a productive agricultural landscape.