1934 City of Sacramento
DESCRIPTION
This is an unrecorded and highly detailed photolithographic map of Sacramento, California, dated July 1, 1934, offering a precise record of land ownership along the Sacramento River and surrounding areas during the early twentieth century.
Drawn to a scale of 500 feet to 1 inch, it spans the city from the American River in the north to William Land Park in the south, extending into adjacent tracts, parks, cemeteries, and industrial zones. Each parcel is labeled with the name of its owner or estate, offering a snapshot of municipal, private, and corporate holdings at the time. The downtown grid is clearly delineated with public spaces such as Capitol Park and Nemerra Park, as well as major infrastructure including Southern Pacific rail lines and the Electric Company property.
Beyond its function as a surveyor’s document, this map serves as a valuable historical record of Sacramento during the interwar period. It preserves detailed information about property boundaries, ownership, and urban layout, providing an important resource for historians, genealogists, and urban researchers studying the city’s growth and the economic forces that shaped it in the early twentieth century.
Examining the Map in Detail
The northern section depicts the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers, with notable parcels owned by the City of Sacramento, Mrs. A. L. Block, W. H. Buscher, and Miller and McGilvray. In the southern portion, significant landmarks include the City Cemetery, Odd Fellows Cemetery, Mission Tract, Catholic (St. Joseph’s) Cemetery, and the expanse of William Land Park. Agricultural tracts such as Price Villa, Richand Tract, and Bath Tract are shown alongside industrial facilities like the Western Pacific Shops. Farther south, large holdings by the Alaska Packers Association and by Florence A. Billings and Emma F. Dodge illustrate the agricultural and industrial development just beyond the city limits.
Sacramento in the 1930s
In the 1930s, Sacramento was steadily growing, shifting from its Gold Rush roots into a diversified regional hub. As the state capital and a key junction of the Sacramento and American Rivers, it thrived on agriculture and food processing, particularly canning, rice milling, and meat packing, supported by the Southern Pacific and Western Pacific railroads and river shipping. Public works, including levee upgrades and the expansion of William Land Park, shaped its development. The 1934 land ownership map captures a city consolidating its grid, absorbing nearby tracts, and balancing industrial, agricultural, and residential growth.
The Photolithographic Process
The map was produced from an original inked survey drawing that was photographed and the image transferred to a light-sensitive lithographic plate. The plate was then inked and pressed to paper on a lithographic press, allowing for precise reproduction of fine parcel lines, lettering, and shaded details.
CONDITION
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