1952 Map of Union Island

About this map

Water management and industrial agriculture define this 1952 landscape in the San Joaquin Delta, where a complex network of sloughs and canals intersects with the northern reaches of Tracy. The southern edge of the map is anchored by the Southern Pacific railroad and the local Sugar Refinery, illustrating the region's mid-century economic reliance on rail transport and crop processing. The geography is dominated by reclaimed island land, notably Roberts Island and the large El Pescadero (Pico and Naglee) grant, separated by historic waterways like the Old River and Middle River. Rural education is well-represented through the locations of the David Bixler Sch, Naglee School, and North School, providing vital touchpoints for genealogists researching family history in the farming communities near Bethany. The irrigation infrastructure, including the Fabian and Bell Canal and numerous pump houses, reveals the engineering required to maintain the fertile delta basin.