1946 Map of Santa Rita Park

About this map

The complex hydraulic landscape of the San Joaquin Valley is meticulously detailed in this survey, showing a transition from natural slough systems to an intensive network of irrigation and drainage canals. The San Joaquin River meanders through the center of the sheet, flanked by dozens of named waterways including Santa Rita Slough, Pick Anderson Slough, and Shearn Slough. This region, including the curiously named Sandy Mush Country, was defined by its large ranching estates such as Cranes Ranch, McNamara Ranch, and the Belmont Ranch. Small community hubs like Santa Rita Park and the Lone Tree Sch provide points of interest for genealogists tracing family histories in rural Merced and Fresno counties. The southern edge is anchored by the Southern Pacific railroad line near Agatha, marking the vital transport artery for the valley's agricultural output, including operations at Wolfsen Mill.