1953 Map of Altamont

About this map

The Lawrence Radiation Laboratory (University of California) stands as a massive technical anchor on the eastern edge of Livermore, representing a transformative era of scientific expansion in the Las Positas Valley. This 1953 survey, photorevised in 1981, captures the transition of the landscape as suburban growth begins to encroach on traditional ranch lands. Water infrastructure is a dominant theme, with the South Bay Aqueduct and Patterson Reservoir cutting through the terrain to support the growing population. To the east, the rugged topography of Altamont Pass and Patterson Pass is defined by the Southern Pacific railroad line and a network of rural schools such as Summit Sch and Green Sch. Small railroad settlements like Ulmar and Redmond Cut mark the path toward the San Joaquin Valley, while the seasonal drainage of Arroyo Seco and Arroyo Mocho dictates the historical rural road patterns.