Salida is a community located in northern Stanislaus County, California which was on the original surface alignment of US Route 99. Within Salida former US Route 99 was aligned on Salida Boulevard which runs alongside the Union Pacific Railroad. Pictured above is US Route 99 between Modesto and Salida after it had been expanded to four lanes in 1938. Part 1; the history of US Route 99 in Salida Salida was founded in 1870 as a siding of the Central Pacific Railroad when it's new line through San Joaquin Valley reached the Stanislaus County Line. Salida was thusly named as the Spanish word for "exit" as it was located at the San Joaquin/Stanislaus County Line. The Central Pacific Railroad (later Southern Pacific Railroad) laid the groundwork for development of San Joaquin Valley south of Stockton. Previous to the Central Pacific Railroad travel via wagon or foot in central California tended to avoid San Joaquin Valley in favor of the Stockton-Los Angeles Road. The
Earlimart and Pixley are communities located in southern Tulare County, California which were on the original surface alignments of US Route 99. Within Earlimart former US Route 99 was aligned on Front Road whereas in Pixley it was aligned on Main Street. Pictured above in the cover photo is the US Route 99 freeway in Earlimart shortly after it opened. Part 1; the history of US Route 99 in Earlimart and Pixley The history of Earlimart and Pixley are both tied to the Southern Pacific Railroad (now Union Pacific) corridor through San Joaquin Valley. The construction of the Southern Pacific Railroad through San Joaquin Valley pushed the main corridor of travel westward from the Sierra Nevada Foothills and Stockton-Los Angeles Road. Previous to the construction of the Southern Pacific Railroad travel through San Joaquin Valley was difficult due to the numerous sloughs and Tule Marshes of the Tulare Lake watershed obstructing overland travel. What is now Earlimart was founded in the e