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1954 Map of Stratford

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Stratford
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1977
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1977

About this map

The town of Stratford serves as the central hub of this Kings County agricultural landscape, situated along the Southern Pacific rail line. The terrain is defined by a sophisticated network of water management features, including the Main Canal, Empire Canal, and Tulare Lake Canal, all working to redirect the flow of the Kings River into the vast expanse of the Tulare Lake Bed. These irrigation systems were essential to the region's development, evidenced by the presence of industrial and social markers like Empire Weir No 1 and the Central Union Grange.

Beyond the town center, the map reveals community foundations such as the Central Union School and the Rancheria Santa Rosa to the northeast. A local Landing Strip and named thoroughfares like Lakeview Ave and Manteca Ave trace the settlement patterns established during the mid-20th century. The intricate system of levees, including the North Central Levee, underscores the constant effort to manage the seasonal waters of the sloughs and the basin floor.