1954 Map of Three Sisters

About this map

Three Sisters dominates the landscape of this mid-century survey along the border of Santa Clara and San Benito Counties. The terrain transitions from the steep, canyon-cut ridges of the Diablo Range, including Chimney Ridge and Dunne Ridge, down to the valley floors where agricultural life is organized around named ranchos and creek drainages. Early land grants like Ausaymas y San Felipe and Santa Ana y Quien Sabe define the property patterns, while several family-named ranching operations, such as Hawkins Ranch and Garcia Rancho, are prominently marked. The map details a network of rural roads such as Spring Grove Road and Foothill Road that connect isolated schoolhouses like Fairview Sch to the surrounding hills. Water management is evident through numerous reservoirs and the Hawkins Lake Spillway, supporting a landscape of varying elevations from Coyote Peak to the winding Arroyo de las Viboras.