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1978 Map of Thornton

Name: 1978 Topographic Map of Thornton
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1978
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1978

About this map

The Mokelumne River and its intricate network of sloughs and channels dominate this landscape at the boundary of Sacramento and San Joaquin counties. Centered on the town of Thornton, the area is defined by massive agricultural land divisions like the New Hope Tract, Canal Ranch, and Brack Tract. These tracts, often protected by siphons and aqueducts, demonstrate the intensive water management required for the region's farming and resource extraction, including the Walnut Grove Gas Field.

Transportation corridors like the Southern Pacific railroad and Walnut Grove Road connect isolated landings and rural school sites. Near the confluence of Snodgrass Slough and the river, New Hope Landing serves as a reminder of the delta's river-based commerce. The presence of the Delta Cross Channel underscores the engineered nature of the modern California water system, diverting flows across the low-lying terrain of Staten Island and toward the south.