1956 Map of Vanguard

About this map

The Fresno Co Kings Co boundary cuts through this agricultural landscape in the mid-1950s, a region defined by complex irrigation systems and early aviation infrastructure. The Lemoore Air Field occupies a significant footprint in the southern portion of the sheet, while the Southern Pacific railroad tracks provide the primary industrial artery for the small settlement of Vanguard. Water management is the central theme of the terrain, visible in the winding courses of the North Fork Kings River and Clarks Fork Kings River, and the extensive network of ditches like the South Branch Summit Lake Ditch. Named farmsteads such as Barlow Ranch and Polder Ranch, along with a local Labor Camp, highlight the human geography of the San Joaquin Valley’s mid-century ranching and farming operations. Local education is anchored by the San Jose Sch near the Laguna de Tache district.