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Old Maps of Los Angeles, California for Academic Research

Study the evolution of Los Angeles with 180 high-resolution historic maps. Whether you're teaching, researching, or modeling changes in land use, these maps provide essential visual documentation of urban, environmental, and geographic change.

  • Analyze long-term change: Track patterns in development, transportation, and natural features.
  • Ideal for environmental or urban studies: Support academic projects with primary historical map data.
  • Use in the classroom or lab: Educators and researchers rely on these maps to bring historical context to life.

These maps are a powerful tool for teaching, research, and visualizing how Los Angeles has changed over the decades.

Los Angeles, CA maps

(180)
  1. 1894 Map of Los Angeles
    1894 Map of Los Angeles
    1894 Los Angeles
    1894 Print · USGS
    Los Angeles was a growing rail hub at the end of the nineteenth century, balancing its agricultural heritage with new mountain resorts. Researchers can trace early neighborhoods like Boyle Heights, find the National Soldiers Home, or follow the Mt. Lowe Hotel incline.
  4. 1896 Map of Pasadena
    1896 Map of Pasadena
    1896 Pasadena
    1896 Print · USGS
    Greater Los Angeles was a network of rail-connected resort towns and historic missions in the late nineteenth century. You can trace early transit lines to the Raymond Hotel, locate the original Mission site, and find vanished stops like Las Casetas Sta.
    2 unique versions available
  7. 1896 Map of Redondo
    1896 Map of Redondo
    1896 Redondo
    1896 Print · USGS
    The Los Angeles coastline and South Bay are captured here in the mid-1890s, when large ranchos still shaped the landscape between the sea and the city. Researchers can trace the early footprints of Inglewood, the military history of the Drum Barracks, and the vanished marshes of Nigger Slough.
    9 unique versions available
  10. 1896 Map of Las Bolsas
    1896 Map of Las Bolsas
    1896 Las Bolsas
    1896 Print · USGS
    Coastal Orange County appears as a vast network of wetlands and tidal inlets in the mid-1890s, long before the rise of modern beach cities. Trace the early settlement of Anaheim Landing and the original hydrology of Bolsas Creek and La Bolsa Chica.
    6 unique versions available
  13. 1896 Map of Santa Monica
    1896 Map of Santa Monica
    1896 Santa Monica
    1896 Print · USGS
    Before the film industry arrived, this area was a patchwork of Spanish ranchos and emerging rail towns during the late nineteenth century. You can trace early landmarks like the National Soldiers Home, the fledgling streets of Hollywood, and the sprawling Ex Mission San Fernando boundary.
  16. 1896 Map of San Pedro
    1896 Map of San Pedro
    1896 San Pedro
    1896 Print · USGS
    The Los Angeles coast near the turn of the century shows the maritime roots of the South Bay before the harbor was fully transformed. Genealogists and historians can trace early rail lines like the L. A. Terminal R. R. and vanished island landmarks like Deadman Id. and Rattlesnake Id.
    5 unique versions available
  19. 1896 Map of Downey
    1896 Map of Downey
    1896 Downey
    1896 Print · USGS
    The Los Angeles Basin was a landscape of vast ranchos and emerging rail towns in the 1890s. Genealogists and historians can trace the early footprints of Downey and Whittier, alongside unique landmarks like the Poor Farm Sta. and Fulton Wells.
  22. 1898 Map of Santa Monica
    1898 Map of Santa Monica
    1898 Santa Monica
    1898 Print · USGS
    Coastal Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley appear here in the 1890s, when Spanish ranchos still defined the land alongside emerging rail towns. Researchers can trace the early streets of Hollywood, the rail junction at Burbank, and the grounds of the National Soldiers Home.
  25. 1899 Map of Downey
    1899 Map of Downey
    1899 Downey
    1899 Print · USGS
    Coastal Los Angeles County at the close of the nineteenth century reveals a landscape of massive ranchos being carved into early townships. Genealogists can trace family roots through historic rail stops like Obed Bell Sta. and vanished settlements like Spanishtown or Nadeau Park.
  28. 1900 Map of Pasadena
    1900 Map of Pasadena
    1900 Pasadena
    1900 Print · USGS
    The San Gabriel Valley is captured here at a pivotal moment of expansion just as the rail networks reached the foothills. Researchers can trace the layout of early Pasadena and Monrovia, locate the Echo Mountain Mt. Lowe Hotel, or find the historic Mission and Raymond Hotel.
    10 unique versions available
  31. 1900 Map of Tujunga
    1900 Map of Tujunga
    1900 Tujunga
    1900 Print · USGS
    The San Gabriel mountains in the late nineteenth century reveal a landscape of deep canyons and mining outposts. Trace early rail travel through Acton or locate the remote Monte Cristo Mines and Hoyt Ranch within the San Gabriel Timber Land Reserve.
    7 unique versions available
  34. 1900 Map of Los Angeles
    1900 Map of Los Angeles
    1900 Los Angeles
    1900 Print · USGS
    Greater Los Angeles was a mosaic of expansive ranchos and emerging rail towns at the turn of the century. You can trace the early footprints of Hollywood, locate the historic Soldiers Home, and follow the mountain rails to the Echo Mountain Mt. Lowe Hotel.
    4 unique versions available
  37. 1900 Map of Fernando
    1900 Map of Fernando
    1900 Fernando
    1900 Print · USGS
    The San Fernando Valley and San Gabriel mountains appear here in the final years of the nineteenth century, showing the early town site of Fernando and the San Fernando Mission. Genealogists and historians can trace the Southern Pacific RR through Soledad Canyon or locate early settlements like Lang and Honby.
    6 unique versions available
  40. 1901 Map of Southern California Sheet No. 1
    1901 Map of Southern California Sheet No. 1
    1901 Southern California Sheet No. 1
    1901 Print · USGS
    Greater Los Angeles at the dawn of the twentieth century is a landscape of growing citrus towns and a burgeoning rail network. Genealogists and historians can trace the early gridded streets of Hollywood and Pasadena or locate landmarks like Bear Lake and the Cahuilla Indian Reservation.
    6 unique versions available
  43. 1902 Map of Santa Monica
    1902 Map of Santa Monica
    1902 Santa Monica
    1902 Print · USGS
    The Los Angeles basin is shown here just as the old rancho boundaries began to give way to early suburban developments like Hollywood and Santa Monica. Genealogists and historians can trace the early rail networks, the grounds of the Soldiers Home, and vanished place names like Sherman and Tropico.
    4 unique versions available
  46. 1902 Map of Downey
    1902 Map of Downey
    1902 Downey
    1902 Print · USGS
    The Los Angeles coastal plain at the turn of the century shows a network of early citrus towns and Spanish rancho boundaries. Trace the development of the river system and rail stops like Poor Farm Sta., Fulton Wells, and the growing community of Whittier.
    9 unique versions available
  49. 1903 Map of Calabasas
    1903 Map of Calabasas
    1903 Calabasas
    1903 Print · USGS
    The northern reaches of the Santa Monica Mountains and the western San Fernando Valley are shown here at the turn of the century. Genealogists and historians can trace early ranch boundaries like Encino and Las Virgenes, or locate the original sites of Grape Arbor and the Chatsworth Park Branch railroad.
    8 unique versions available
  52. 1903 Map of Camulos
    1903 Map of Camulos
    1903 Camulos
    1903 Print · USGS
    Southern California at the dawn of the twentieth century shows a landscape of ranchos and early rail towns. Trace the old routes through Simi and Camulos, or locate vanished stops like Ternez Siding and the coastal piers at Port Los Angeles.
    5 unique versions available
  55. 1903 Map of Santa Susana
    1903 Map of Santa Susana
    1903 Santa Susana
    1903 Print · USGS
    Northern Los Angeles and Ventura counties are captured here at the start of the twentieth century, as the railroad transformed the frontier. Trace early rail hubs at Newhall and Saugus, and find the engineering feats of the Santa Susana Tunnel and Fernando Tunnel.
    8 unique versions available
  58. 1904 Map of Southern California Sheet No. 1, 1905 Print
    1904 Map of Southern California Sheet No. 1, 1905 Print
    1904 Southern California Sheet No. 1
    1905 Print · USGS
    Southern California at the dawn of the twentieth century shows a landscape of citrus groves and coastal towns connected by rail. Genealogists and historians can trace early settlements like San Juan Capistrano, find remote sites like the Rose Mine, and study the original water systems of the Santa Ana River.
    2 unique versions available
  61. 1920 Map of Santa Monica
    1920 Map of Santa Monica
    1920 Santa Monica
    1920 Print · USGS
    The Los Angeles basin and San Fernando Valley are captured here just after the war as agriculture gives way to early suburban sprawl. Genealogists and historians can trace the early grids of Beverly Hills, Sawtelle, and Van Nuys alongside the sprawling Salt Lake Oil Fields.
  64. 1921 Map of Santa Monica
    1921 Map of Santa Monica
    1921 Santa Monica
    1921 Print · USGS
    Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley are captured here just as the suburban boom began to accelerate. Genealogists and researchers can trace the rail-connected origins of Lankershim, Universal City, and the Salt Lake Oil Fields.
    3 unique versions available
  67. 1923 Map of Venice
    1923 Map of Venice
    1923 Venice
    1923 Print · USGS
    The Los Angeles coastline was a mix of seaside resorts and industrial pioneers in the early twenties. Genealogists and historians can trace early residential blocks in Venice or locate vanished landmarks like the Del Rey Gun Club and the Standard Oil Refinery.
  70. 1923 Map of Wilmington
    1923 Map of Wilmington
    1923 Wilmington
    1923 Print · USGS
    The Los Angeles waterfront was a hub of rapid industrial and military growth in the early twenties. Genealogists and historians can trace the early rail yards of the Pacific Electric, the footprint of Fort Mc Arthur Lower Res, and the busy wharves of Fish Harbor.
  73. 1923 Map of Watts
    1923 Map of Watts
    1923 Watts
    1923 Print · USGS
    South-central Los Angeles is seen here during its mid-twenties transition into a major metropolitan corridor. Researchers can trace early street grids and rail lines through the City of Watts, Lynwood, and schools like Willowbrook School.
Showing maps 1-25 of 180

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Frequently asked questions

  • What are the different types of historical maps available for Los Angeles?
  • What is the oldest map of Los Angeles?
  • Where can I purchase historical maps of Los Angeles for my home or office?
  • Where can I download high-res historical maps of Los Angeles?
  • Are there historical topographic maps available for Los Angeles?
  • Is there historical aerial imagery available for Los Angeles?
  • Where are historical maps of Los Angeles sourced from?