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1949 Map of San Lucas

Name: 1949 Topographic Map of San Lucas
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1953
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1953

About this map

The Salinas River valley in the late 1940s is dominated by the industrial and transport corridor of the Southern Pacific railroad. This survey captures the rural landscape between King City and San Lucas, where agricultural life is anchored by the river's path and the surrounding canyons. Small rail stops like Welby mark the importance of the rail line to the local economy, while the Airport and Sewage Disposal plant near King City reflect the mid-century municipal growth of the area.

The topography transitions from the flat river bottom into the dramatic relief of the San Benito and San Bernabe uplands. Canyons such as Wildhorse Canyon and Sweetwater Canyon cut through the eastern hills, leading toward Long Valley. The network of rural routes, including Londak Road, connects these rugged interior drainages back to the primary settlement corridor along the river and the San Lorenzo Creek confluence.