1918 Map of Turner Ranch

About this map

The San Joaquin River and its intricate network of slow-moving waterways dominate this 1916 survey of the San Joaquin Valley. The landscape is defined by the braided channels of Mariposa Slough, Duck Slough, and Deadman Slough, reflecting a time when natural drainage and early irrigation efforts coexisted before modern large-scale water management. Local agriculture is represented by established family holdings like Cranes Ranch, Hogland Ranch, and Turner Ranch, which are situated among the numerous wells and marshlands. Transport through this low-lying terrain is facilitated by the Dickerson Ferry Road, while the presence of the Stevinson Canal indicates the growing reliance on engineered water diversion for the region's development. This map provides a detailed look at the hydrology of the Santa Rita area just before the mid-century transformation of California's central plumbing.