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1897 Map of Arroyo Grande

Name: 1897 Topographic Map of Arroyo Grande
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1925
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1925

About this map

Coastal San Luis Obispo County unfolds during the late nineteenth century, defined by the meeting of the Southern Pacific R. R. (Coast Line) and the rugged Central Coast. The landscape is a mix of fertile valleys and steep ranges, where the Santa Maria Valley meets the San Luis Range. Resource extraction and early tourism are evident in the presence of Asphalt Mines near Edna and the thermal waters of Sycamore Springs and Newsom Springs.

Maritime activity centers on San Luis Obispo Bay at Mallagh Landing, while the inland economy follows the rail corridor through settlements like Arroyo Grande and Oceano. Further south, the vast dunes of the Bo L S A D E C H A M I S A L separate Oso Flaco Lake from the agricultural flats. This survey documents the transition from large ranchos to more defined townships as the railroad solidified the region's connection to the rest of California.