1954 Map of Stratford SE

About this map

Tulare Lake Bed dominates this portion of Kings County, showing a landscape reshaped by heavy hydrological management in the mid-1950s. The once-vast freshwater lake is here depicted as a grid of reclaimed agricultural land and levee systems, illustrating the transition from a natural basin to a controlled industrial farming environment. The Tule River and the North Central Levee define the movement of water across the flats, while the Midlake Substation stands as a lonely landmark of electrical infrastructure in the open basin. Extensive water management is further evidenced by the Lovelace Levee, Goldberg Levee, and the Cohn Levee, which protect the low-lying sections. The presence of numerous wells and the Wilbur ditch line further emphasize the intensive effort to maintain productivity in this former lake bottom.