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1922 Map of Santa Rita Bridge

Name: 1922 Topographic Map of Santa Rita Bridge
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1922
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1922

About this map

San Joaquin River and its intricate network of sloughs define this Central Valley landscape as it was surveyed by N.E. Ballmer and Roscoe Reeves in 1916. The map reveals an era when large landholdings and irrigation interests shaped the terrain, featuring the extensive Santa Rita Ranch and Lucerne Farm. The confluence of the Chowchilla River and the braided channels of Sand Slough and Wood Slough demonstrate the complex hydrology of the valley floor before modern water management.

Social and economic hubs are represented by the Temple Gun Club and Colony Farm, while transportation relies on a system of regional routes such as Merced Road and Dos Palos Road. The Santa Rita Bridge serves as a critical crossing point over the main river channel, connecting the borderlands of Merced, Madera, and Fresno counties. This topographic study captures a transition between traditional ranching and organized agricultural development.