1956 Map of Westside

About this map

Large-scale agricultural development and irrigation infrastructure define this mid-century view of the San Joaquin Valley. Named ranches and farm complexes, including the Vista del Llano Farms and Harnish Ranch, are connected by a rigid grid of avenues named for California counties. The importance of the regional water system is evident in the path of the Butte Canal and Crescent Ditch, which supported the intensive cultivation shown here. Industrial features such as a Cotton Gin, Grain Tanks, and various Labor Camps point to the labor-intensive nature of the local economy during this era. At the heart of the community, the Westside School and the Westside settlement stand as small hubs of activity amidst the vast stretches of farmland divided by Mt Whitney Avenue and Parkhurst Avenue.