1962 Map of Snelling

About this map

The Merced River corridor dominates this 1962 landscape, revealing a riverbed fundamentally altered by industrial history. Extensive Dredge Tailings flank the water, marking the legacy of gold dredging operations that reshaped the valley floor near the community of Snelling. This settlement serves as a local hub, featuring the Snelling-Merced Falls Sch and Henderson Park. Evidence of earlier transportation and water management is clear, with an Old Railroad Grade running parallel to the river and a complex network of irrigation infrastructure including the North Side Canal, Main Canal, and a Diversion Dam. North of the river, the terrain transitions into a series of drainages like Dry Creek and Hayward Creek, punctuated by landmarks such as Negro Hill. The map also documents the convergence of several county boundaries, where the Merced, Stanislaus, and Mariposa county lines meet in the rolling foothills.