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1939 Map of Acton

Name: 1939 Topographic Map of Acton
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1939
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1939

About this map

Acton and the high desert canyons of the San Gabriel Mountains are captured in this 1934 survey, just as the region transitioned into a center for ranching and mountain recreation. The Southern Pacific railroad cuts through the north, passing the small settlement of Paris and the industrial hub at Vincent. The map reveals a landscape defined by private landholdings, including Strong Ranch, Maitre Smith Ranch, and Blum Ranch, which are interspersed among the rugged slopes of the Sierra Pelona and the Angeles National Forest.

A notable marker of the New Deal era is the CCC Camp located near the head of Soledad Canyon, suggesting the active conservation and infrastructure work being performed in the forest during the Great Depression. Remote outposts like Hunters Inn and Werner Camp illustrate the era's reliance on isolated springs and wells to support travel and livestock through the dry canyons of Arrastre Canyon and Aliso Canyon.