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Merced County Road Maps: Finding Aid
MCRoadMaps:19th Century
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Title: Merced County Road Maps: Finding Aid
Dates: 1868-1897
Collection Number: MCRoadMaps:19th Century
Creator/Collector:
Merced County Historical Society and Courthouse Museum
Extent: 26 Maps, all scanned
Online items available
Repository:
Merced County Historical Society and Courthouse Museum
Merced, California 95340
Abstract: This collection contains 26 hand-drawn road maps in Merced County, California made between 1868 and 1897. The maps were created
by the County of Merced. They are accompanied with road petitions. Merced County was organized in 1855. Farming and ranching
were the chief enterprises in the county in the second half of the 19th century. The roads were often developed to transport
agricultural products and cattle to the nearest ferry or railroad station. To have a road built in their area, citizens of
Merced County would file a petition.
Language of Material: English
Restricted access by appointment only. Digital images are available.
Merced County Historical Society Archives
Merced County Road Maps: Finding Aid. Merced County Historical Society and Courthouse Museum
Biography/Administrative History
This collection of maps was displayed at the Merced County Courthouse Museum in 2016 in an exhibit titled, "Let's Google That
Old Road."
Scope and Content of Collection
The early county roads were called public highways. They were often named either after a landowner of the area such as Healy
Ranch Road (1874) or by the towns, ranches, railroads, or ferries where the road began and ended such as Dugan Ranch and Merced
Road (1872). One of the earliest roads in Merced County was Pacheco Pass Toll Road built by Andrew Davidson Firebaugh in 1856.
Road
Transportation
Railroad
Ferry
Agriculture
Merced County
Map
Merced County Road Maps: 1868-1897