1956 Map of Tres Picos Farms

About this map

Tres Picos Farms and the surrounding agricultural landscape of Fresno County are defined by a rigid grid of transit and irrigation during the mid-20th century. The California Aqueduct carves a diagonal path through the valley floor, crossing numerous east-west thoroughfares such as Mt Whitney Avenue and Laguna Avenue. This 1956 survey, updated with photorevisions from 1971, captures the industrial scale of Central Valley farming, evidenced by the presence of Grain Tanks, a private Landing Strip, and established holdings like Terry Ranch and Farrell Ranch. Near the foothills of the Big Blue Hills, the seasonal drainage of Cantua Creek meanders across the flatlands, passing the Cantua Substation. The infrastructure of the era is marked by specific canal mileposts, including Mile 130 and Mile 135, which track the vital flow of water through this arid reach of the San Joaquin Valley.