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2018 Map of Stratford

Name: 2018 Topographic Map of Stratford
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2018
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2018

About this map

The settlement of Stratford serves as the focal point for this section of the San Joaquin Valley, where a complex network of man-made waterways supports the region's intensive agriculture. The landscape is defined by the engineered movement of water through the Stratford Canal, Empire Canal, and Tulare Lake Canal, which crisscross the flat terrain to sustain the surrounding farm plots. The natural course of the Kings River and the winding Mussel Slough provide a contrast to the rigid grid of numbered avenues and named roads that parcel out the valley floor.

Aviation plays a notable role in this rural economy, evidenced by several specialized airstrips including Newton Field, Jones Farms Airport, and the Machado Dusters Airport. These facilities, alongside the extensive irrigation infrastructure like the Empire Westside Main Canal and Blakeley Canal, underscore the industrial scale of local farming operations in the late 2010s. The map traces the intersection of these water systems with local landmarks such as W Br Last Chance Ditch and Childress Ditch, providing a detailed view of water management in Kings County.