1959 Map of Acton

About this map

Acton sits at the northern edge of the San Gabriel Mountains, serving as a critical rail and transit point along the Southern Pacific line through Soledad Canyon. The 1950s landscape reveals a mix of mountain agriculture and recreational camps, including the Burbank YMCA Camp and Switzers Camp. Deep in the forest, mining operations such as the Monte Cristo Mine and Lodestone Mine highlight the area's mineral history. Extensive military reservations and the Little Gleason Forestry Plantation occupy the high ridges near Mount Gleason, while localized family ranches like Loomis Ranch and Newcomb Ranch are scattered throughout the Angeles National Forest. The presence of the Soledad-Agua Dulce Union Sch and various campgrounds like Chilao Campground indicates a transition from rugged prospecting to a landscape of education and forest management.