Sonora Road is an approximately 17-mile-long bisected highway corridor between Knights Ferry in Stanislaus County and Farmington in San Joaquin County. The corridor was part of the larger La Grange-Farmington Road which was a major Gold Rush era stage corridor. Sonora Road is historically tied to the Knights Ferry Covered Bridge which opened at the Stanislaus River in 1864. Construction of the Farmington Flood Control Basin Dam in 1951 would bisect Sonora Road between Henry Road and 26 Mile Road.
The 14-mile portion of Sonora Road from California State Routes 108 and 120 near Knights Ferry west to the closure gap at Farmington Flood Control Basin near 26 Mile Road can be seen below.
The approximately 3-mile portion of Sonora Road west of Farmington Flood Control Basin to California State Route 4 can be seen below.
Part 1; the history of Sonora Road
What is now Sonora Road was part of a larger stage corridor which connected La Grange in Stanislaus County northwest via Knights Ferry to Farmington in San Joaquin County. The La Grange-Farmington Road is shown heading northwest of La Grange to Farmington via Knights Ferry on the 1882 Bancroft's Map of California. This corridor has taken the modern names of Cooperstown Road, Willms Road and Sonora Road.
Knights Ferry Covered Bridge was a major Gold Rush era crossing of the Stanislaus River. In 1862 Knights Ferry became the fourth Stanislaus County Seat replacing La Grange. Despite becoming the Stanislaus County Seat, the community would suffer massive damages from the Great Flood of 1862. The Great Flood of 1862 destroyed the 1854 era flour mill and 1857 era bridge over the Stanislaus River. By 1863 a new flour mill built by David Tulloch and what was known as the Knights Ferry Covered Bridge were constructed from 1863 through 1864.
The Knights Ferry Covered Bridge is a four span design which towers over the Stanislaus River at 330 feet in length. This covered span remains the longest in the United States west of the Mississippi River. The structure was purchased by Stanislaus County in 1885 and was converted into a public road. The bridge was ultimately closed to automotive traffic in 1981 and rehabilitated in 1989.
Sonora Road can be seen connecting Knights Ferry and Farmington on the 1917 California State Automobile Association map.
Sonora Road can be seen as major local highway spanning from California State Route 120 at Knights Ferry west to Farmington on the 1935 Division of Highways map of Stanislaus County.
Sonora Road was bisected between Henry Road and 26 Mile Road near Farmington in 1951 due to construction of Farmington Dam. Farmington Dam was built by the Army Corps of Engineers as part of the Farmington Flood Control Basin. The dam impounds both Rock Creek and Little John Creek. Both creeks descend from the Sierra Nevada foothills out of Salt Springs Valley of Calaveras County.
Farmington Dam can be seen bisecting Sonora Road on the 1953 United States Geological Survey map of Farmington.
Part 2; a drive on Sonora Road
County Route J14 east of the Farmington Flood Control Basin transitions from 26 Mile Road onto Sonora Road.
County Route J14 quickly departs onto Milton Road whereas Sonora Road continues via right-hand turn east towards Knights Ferry. The junction of Milton Road and Sonora Road is where the small community of Eugene once stood.
Sonora Road crosses Little John Creek a short distance from Milton Road.
Sonora Road continues eastbound following the general course of Little John Creek. The highway crosses over the creek via a modernized bridge near the confluence with Martells Creek.
Sonora Road crosses over Martells Creek via a 1920s/1930s era concrete bridge.
Sonora Road crosses over a second concrete bridge at Martells Creek.
Sonora Road next crosses Little John Creek again via modern highway bridge.
Eastbound Sonora Road approaches Knights Ferry and intersects Orange Blossom Road. At the junction Sonora Road turns left.
Sonora Road enters Knights Ferry and passes through downtown towards Covered Bridge Road. Sonora Road would have originally continued straight towards Knights Ferry Covered Bridge but now makes a right-hand turn towards the Stanislaus River.
Below are photos of the Knights Ferry Covered Bridge in the Knights Ferry Recreation Area. A former flour mill and power plant can be found along the north side of the bridge.
Modern Stanislaus Road crosses the Stanislaus River and makes a left-hand turn at Kennedy Road.
Sonora Road terminates at California State Route 108 and 120. Traffic can cross the State Highways to continue towards Willms Ranch via Willms Road.
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