1948 Map of Santa Rita Bridge

About this map

The San Joaquin River and its complex network of sloughs and canals dominate this post-war survey of the San Joaquin Valley. Mapping the confluence where the Fresno River and Chowchilla River meet the San Joaquin, the landscape is defined by large agricultural holdings and an intricate irrigation system including the Poso Canal and San Juan Canal. The prevalence of named agricultural properties like Lucerne Farm, Santa Rita Ranch, and Colony Farm illustrates the transition from open range to organized commercial farming. Local industry and infrastructure are anchored by the Santa Rita Bridge and Wolfsen Mill, while the Red Top Ranch Airport indicates the growing role of aviation in managing these expansive valley estates. Numerous windmills dot the sections, marking the vital groundwater points that sustained these ranches in the late 1940s.