1946 Map of Selma

About this map

The agricultural heart of the San Joaquin Valley is defined by a dense network of irrigation channels and railroads connecting the regional hubs of Selma and Kingsburg. This 1946 culture revision highlights a landscape transitioning from early 20th-century rural settlement to mid-century industrial farming, supported by the Southern Pacific and the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroads. Local community life is anchored by family and community institutions such as Franklin Sch, Walnut Sch, and the Danish Ch, reflecting the heritage of the settlers who established these vineyard and orchard lands. The importance of early aviation in this flat terrain is marked by the Paiva Intercity Landing Field and Selma Landing Field. To the southeast, the Kings River and Cole Slough provide a natural boundary, their winding paths contrasting with the rigid grid of rural avenues like Manning and Dinuba Avenue.