1948 Map of Stockdale Mountain

About this map

Stockdale Mountain dominates the northwestern portion of this Monterey County landscape, which transitions into the high elevations of the Cholame Hills and Middle Mountain. In the late 1940s, this area remained largely undeveloped, characterized by a complex network of seasonal drainages including Big Sandy Creek and the Middle Fork. A singular Windmill and the Immaculate Cem provide evidence of early ranching and community life in an otherwise sparse interior. The topography is defined by deep cuts such as Vine Yard Canyon and Ranchito Canyon, which converge near a distinctive geological pinch point known as The Narrows. This survey, based on 1947 aerial photography, captures the drainage patterns of Cholame Creek before significant modern alterations reached this portion of the coastal range.