1916 Map of Waterford

About this map

The Tuolumne River winds through the southern edge of this Central Valley landscape, defining a region where the transition from ranching to irrigated agriculture is clearly visible. The vast Thompson Rancho occupies the northwest corner, contrasting with the emerging grid of irrigation infrastructure like the Modesto Canal and No 2 Lateral. This 1914 survey, published by the U.S. Geological Survey, illustrates the early 20th-century dependence on rail and river, with the Southern Pacific line and its Oakdale Branch connecting the grain and fruit-growing districts.