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1916 Map of Santa Rita Bridge

Name: 1916 Topographic Map of Santa Rita Bridge
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1948
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1948

About this map

The San Joaquin River meanders through this agricultural landscape where Merced, Madera, and Fresno counties meet. Following a 1946 revision of earlier surveys, the map reveals a highly developed irrigation and ranching network defined by numerous sloughs and canal systems. The namesake Santa Rita Bridge provides a vital crossing near Santa Rita Park, while the surrounding plains are dotted with significant family-named agricultural operations such as Lucerne Farm, Liberty Farm, and the Durham Ranch.

Evidence of early 20th-century industry and infrastructure is visible at Wolfsen Mill and the Red Top Ranch Airport. Water management dominates the geography, with the Temple-Santa Rita Road navigating a complex terrain of waterways including the Sand Slough, Santa Rita Slough, and Ash Slough. This survey captures the transition of the Central Valley into an engineered agricultural powerhouse, marked by numerous windmills and gaging stations along the riverbanks.