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1954 Map of Stratford

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Stratford
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1991
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1991

About this map

The Kings River carves a winding path through this agricultural landscape, defined by an orderly grid of roads and irrigation canals as they looked in the mid-1950s. At the heart of the region, Stratford serves as a central hub, situated along the Southern Pacific railroad line and the Avenal Cut-Off. The map illustrates the intensive water management required for Central Valley farming, featuring landmarks like Empire Weir No 1 and an extensive network of named thoroughfares such as Kansas Ave and Nevada Ave.

To the south, the vast expanse of the Tulare Lake Bed indicates the historic footprint of what was once the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi, now reclaimed for cultivation. Cultural and community life is anchored by local institutions like the Central Union School and the Central Union Grange, while the presence of the Rancheria Santa Rosa and Mussel Slough provides important context for local history and land use in Kings County.