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1940s Maps of Santa Cruz, California

Explore 16 historic maps of Santa Cruz 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 Cruz'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 Cruz's history through authentic maps from the 1940s. This is your window into the past.

Santa Cruz, CA maps

(16)
  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 Capitola
    1940 Map of Capitola
    1940 Capitola
    1940 Print · USGS
    Coastal Monterey Bay comes alive in the late 1930s, showing a landscape of rail-linked beach towns and sprawling ranchos. Genealogists and historians can trace family-named schools and early airfields like Santa Cruz Airport, Camp McQuaide, and the original rail stops of the Southern Pacific.
  7. 1940 Map of Ano Nuevo, 1943 Print
    1940 Map of Ano Nuevo, 1943 Print
    1940 Ano Nuevo
    1943 Print · USGS
    The San Mateo and Santa Cruz coastlines appear here in the early 1940s, highlighting a period of rural ranching and isolated coastal outposts. Genealogists and historians can trace the locations of Coastways Ranch, the Whitehouse Camp, and Trantor.
  10. 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
  13. 1941 Map of Ano Nuevo Pt.
    1941 Map of Ano Nuevo Pt.
    1941 Ano Nuevo Pt.
    1941 Print · USGS
    The rugged San Mateo coastline comes alive in the early 1940s, showing a landscape of maritime navigation and coastal ranching. Genealogy and history buffs can locate early landmarks like Pigeon Point LH, Notley Junction, and the historic Coastways Ranch.
  16. 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.
  19. 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.
  22. 1942 Map of Ano Nuevo
    1942 Map of Ano Nuevo
    1942 Ano Nuevo
    1942 Print · USGS
    The Central Coast south of Pescadero appears in this wartime survey, showing a landscape of remote ranching and prominent maritime landmarks. Researchers can trace early 20th-century coastal sites like Coastways Ranch, Notley Junction, and the iconic Pigeon Point light station.
    2 unique versions available
  25. 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.
  28. 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.
  31. 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.
  34. 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.
  37. 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
  40. 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.
  43. 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.
  46. 1948 Map of Ano Nuevo, 1961 Print
    1948 Map of Ano Nuevo, 1961 Print
    1948 Ano Nuevo
    1961 Print · USGS
    The San Mateo and Santa Cruz coast is documented here in the decade following the Great Depression. Trace early coastal land use through landmarks like Whitehouse Camp (Abandoned), the Chalks Lookout, and Coastways Ranch.
    2 unique versions available
End of results
Showing maps 1-16 of 16

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