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Description

The map titled "Progressive Map of the County of Fresno," compiled and published by Progressive Map Service and overseen by Dan W. Chamberlin, serves as an important cartographic record of Fresno County, California. Created using data from government, county, and private sources, this detailed map captures the layout of the county in the early 20th century, reflecting its geographical features, administrative boundaries, and infrastructure.

Fresno County, located in the central San Joaquin Valley, is delineated on this map with its county borders clearly marked, and surrounded by neighboring counties such as Madera, Tulare, Kings, and Merced. The map features county lines, city limits, paved highways, railroads, and streams, offering a comprehensive overview of Fresno’s transportation and natural water systems at the time. The inclusion of railroads—both steam and electric—highlights the importance of rail infrastructure for the movement of goods and people throughout the region, reinforcing Fresno's role as a significant agricultural and industrial hub. 

The grid pattern used in the map reflects the Township and Range system, which was common in the Western United States for dividing land. This grid-based system makes it easy to locate specific parcels and roadways, indicating the map’s practical use for administrative purposes, land ownership, and urban planning. The index prominently featured in the lower right corner lists street names, paired with their corresponding township and range locations, aiding navigation and land identification.

Key cities, roads, and avenues such as Adams Avenue, Auberry Road, Chalmers Avenue, and Shields Avenue are named and positioned within the grid, showing the connectivity of the county’s road network. The map’s legend clarifies the representation of various types of infrastructure, from county lines to washes (dry riverbeds), reinforcing its utility for engineers, developers, and government officials. 

By  the early 20th century, Fresno County had become a major agricultural center in California, known for producing a wide variety of crops. This map not only supports Fresno's administrative and urban planning needs but also likely served the agricultural community by providing accurate, up-to-date information on land divisions and access routes for transporting agricultural products. The presence of paved highways and railroads on the map reflects the county’s infrastructure supporting the booming agriculture industry, allowing efficient movement of goods both within and outside the county.