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1940s Maps of Santa Clara County, California

Explore 21 historic maps of Santa Clara County from the 1940s. These maps offer a rare glimpse into what life looked like during the 1940s — showing old roads, neighborhoods, homes, and landmarks that have changed or disappeared over time.

Whether you're researching your family's past, planning a metal detecting trip, or studying how Santa Clara County's landscape evolved across the 1940s, these high-resolution maps are a powerful tool for exploring the history of this region.

  • Focus on a specific era: All maps on this page are from the 1940s, giving you a focused view of this time period.
  • See what’s changed: Compare century-old streets, trails, and buildings to today's modern landscape using overlays and satellite layers.
  • Research with precision: Use these maps for genealogy, historical research, land use analysis, or educational projects.
  • View, download, or print: Maps are fully viewable online in high resolution, and can be downloaded or printed for your own records.

Start exploring Santa Clara County's history through authentic maps from the 1940s. This is your window into the past.

Santa Clara County, CA maps

(21)
  1. 1940 Map of San Juan Bautista
    1940 Map of San Juan Bautista
    1940 San Juan Bautista
    1940 Print · USGS
    Central California coastal and valley life at the start of the 1940s is captured here, where four counties meet. Genealogy researchers can trace family-named sites like Patrick Breen, old rural institutions like the St Francis Orphan Asylum, and the early Sargent Oil Fields.
  4. 1940 Map of Gilroy Hot Springs
    1940 Map of Gilroy Hot Springs
    1940 Gilroy Hot Springs
    1940 Print · USGS
    The Diablo Range rises above the Santa Clara Valley in the early 1940s, showing a landscape of remote cattle ranches and high peaks. Genealogists and hikers can trace historic properties like Robeson Ranch or navigate the routes through Pacheco Pass and Gilroy Hot Springs.
  7. 1940 Map of Hollister
    1940 Map of Hollister
    1940 Hollister
    1940 Print · USGS
    San Benito County is shown just before the war as a landscape of productive ranches and emerging civic infrastructure. Genealogists and local historians can trace rural school districts like Anasymas School and the Southern Pacific rail line through Tres Pinos.
    2 unique versions available
  10. 1940 Map of Pacheco Pass
    1940 Map of Pacheco Pass
    1940 Pacheco Pass
    1940 Print · USGS
    Pacheco Pass and the surrounding Merced County foothills are captured here in the years leading up to the war. Genealogists can locate family holdings like Howard Ranch and Fifield Ranch, or trace rural education at Romero School.
  13. 1940 Map of Quien Sabe
    1940 Map of Quien Sabe
    1940 Quien Sabe
    1940 Print · USGS
    The San Benito and Merced county lines meet in this 1940 survey of the Diablo Range highlands and interior ranch lands. Researchers can trace the early property lines of the Real de las Aguilas, find the Stayton Mine, and locate the old Quien Sabe School.
    2 unique versions available
  16. 1940 Map of Los Gatos, 1961 Print
    1940 Map of Los Gatos, 1961 Print
    1940 Los Gatos
    1961 Print · USGS
    The Santa Cruz Mountains and southern Santa Clara Valley appear in the early 1940s, showing a landscape of mountain resorts and isolated summits. Researchers can trace the footprints of Alma College, the community at Holy City, and historical landmarks like Mine Hill.
    2 unique versions available
  19. 1941 Map of Morgan Hill
    1941 Map of Morgan Hill
    1941 Morgan Hill
    1941 Print · USGS
    The Santa Clara Valley corridor comes alive in the early 1940s, showing a landscape of ranchos and rail-side towns. Trace family roots at Redwood School or find old landmarks like Bradley's Store and Madrone Soda Springs.
  22. 1941 Map of Palo Alto
    1941 Map of Palo Alto
    1941 Palo Alto
    1941 Print · USGS
    The Peninsula and Santa Clara Valley are seen here in the early 1940s, just as the region began its mid-century transformation. Researchers can trace the layout of Stanford University, the military grounds of Moffett Field, and local landmarks like Flood Park.
  25. 1942 Map of Mt. Hamilton
    1942 Map of Mt. Hamilton
    1942 Mt. Hamilton
    1942 Print · USGS
    The Diablo Range heights above San Jose appear here in the early 1940s, centered on the high scientific outpost at Lick Observatory. Researchers can trace old mountain roads and family-held land grants such as the Grant Ranch and Evergreen Ranch.
  28. 1942 Map of Mt. Boardman
    1942 Map of Mt. Boardman
    1942 Mt. Boardman
    1942 Print · USGS
    The Diablo Range highlands at the intersection of four counties are captured here in the early 1940s. Genealogists and historians can locate remote family holdings like the Schmidt Ranch and Jordan Ranch or trace the early paths through San Antone Valley.
  31. 1943 Map of Palo Alto
    1943 Map of Palo Alto
    1943 Palo Alto
    1943 Print · USGS
    The San Francisco Peninsula was still a region of orchards and academic outposts in the years following the Great Depression. Researchers can trace the development of early Silicon Valley through the Southern Pacific line and family landmarks like Duveneck Ranch and the Whisman Dist School.
  34. 1943 Map of Mt. Boardman
    1943 Map of Mt. Boardman
    1943 Mt. Boardman
    1943 Print · USGS
    The Diablo Range in the early 1940s reveals a network of remote ranching outposts and mineral extraction sites. Genealogists can locate named homesteads like Winegar Ranch while historians trace the operations of the Westvaco Mine and Adobe Mine.
  37. 1943 Map of San Jose
    1943 Map of San Jose
    1943 San Jose
    1943 Print · USGS
    The Santa Clara Valley is seen here in the early 1940s, showing a landscape of orchards and rail junctions. Trace family roots in San Jose or locate old landmarks like the Agnew State Hospital and Oak Hill Memorial Park.
  40. 1943 Map of Los Gatos
    1943 Map of Los Gatos
    1943 Los Gatos
    1943 Print · USGS
    The Santa Cruz Mountains and Santa Clara Valley are seen here in the early 1940s, before widespread development reshaped the landscape. Researchers can trace historic mountain communities like Holy City, old rural schools such as Hester Creek Sch, and the high-elevation Loma Prieta Lookout.
  43. 1943 Map of Mt. Hamilton
    1943 Map of Mt. Hamilton
    1943 Mt. Hamilton
    1943 Print · USGS
    Santa Clara County during the early forties was a land of high-altitude science and isolated ranching outposts. Researchers can trace the winding route to Lick Observatory or locate family landmarks like the Fisher Homestead and Evergreen Ranch.
  46. 1947 Map of Mt. Hamilton
    1947 Map of Mt. Hamilton
    1947 Mt. Hamilton
    1947 Print · USGS
    The Diablo Range rises east of San Jose in the late 1940s, centered on the heights of the Lick Observatory. Genealogists and local historians can trace legacy landholdings such as Evergreen Ranch, Rancho Arroyo Bayo, and the Fisher Homestead.
  49. 1947 Map of San Francisco, 1948 Print
    1947 Map of San Francisco, 1948 Print
    1947 San Francisco
    1948 Print · USGS
    The Bay Area in the late 1940s reveals a region transitioning from wartime intensity to post-war suburban growth. Trace the historic rail lines of the Southern Pacific RR or locate early military footprints at Fort Funston and Moffett Field.
  52. 1947 Map of San Jose, 1948 Print
    1947 Map of San Jose, 1948 Print
    1947 San Jose
    1948 Print · USGS
    Northern California's heartland is captured here just after the war, showing the rapid growth of the Santa Clara and Central Valleys. Researchers can trace the legacy of rail and water at Castle Air Force Base, Stockton, and the Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct.
  55. 1948 Map of Santa Cruz
    1948 Map of Santa Cruz
    1948 Santa Cruz
    1948 Print · USGS
    The Central Coast and San Joaquin Valley meet in this mid-century look at the region's agricultural and military geography. Genealogists and historians can trace the paths of El Camino Real, locate family farms near Hollister, or study the footprint of the Fort Ord Military Reservation.
    2 unique versions available
  58. 1948 Map of San Francisco, 1951 Print
    1948 Map of San Francisco, 1951 Print
    1948 San Francisco
    1951 Print · USGS
    The Bay Area in the late 1940s reveals a landscape defined by rapid post-war growth and a heavy military presence at the Golden Gate. Trace the development of early trans-bay infrastructure like the Oakland-Bay Bridge and historic coastal defense sites such as Fort Funston and Alcatraz Island.
  61. 1948 Map of Palo Alto, 1956 Print
    1948 Map of Palo Alto, 1956 Print
    1948 Palo Alto
    1956 Print · USGS
    The San Francisco Peninsula is captured here during its postwar transformation into a suburban and technological hub. Genealogists and local historians can trace early neighborhood boundaries near Stanford University, the sprawling Moffet Naval Air Station, and family landmarks like O'Neal Ranch.
End of results
Showing maps 1-21 of 21

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