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1949 Map of San Lucas

Name: 1949 Topographic Map of San Lucas
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1984
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1984

About this map

The Salinas River valley serves as the central artery for this mid-century agricultural corridor, framed by the upland benches of San Lorenzo (Soberanes) and San Bernabe. The landscape is defined by the rigid alignment of the Southern Pacific railroad, which parallels the river and connects the primary settlements of King City and San Lucas. Smaller sidings and stops like Welby punctuate the line, marking the era's reliance on rail for moving produce and cattle from the surrounding grazing lands.

Deep canyons, including Sweetwater Canyon and Wildhorse Canyon, drain the eastern hills toward the river valley, creating a topography of sharp contrasts between irrigated bottomlands and arid heights. Near the northern edge, the Mesa Del Rey Airport stands on a terrace above San Lorenzo Creek, highlighting the region's developing infrastructure for both aviation and land management during the late 1940s.