1953 Map of Byron Hot Springs

About this map

The hills of Los Meganos and the sprawling Cañada De Los Vaqueros define this landscape on the border of Contra Costa and Alameda counties. In the early 1950s, the area remained largely agricultural and industrial, marked by the presence of an Oil Pumping Station and the vital water infrastructure of the Contra Costa Canal. The town of Byron serves as the local hub along the Southern Pacific tracks, while the nearby Byron Hot Springs stands as a notable landmark near the edge of the valley. Movement through the varied terrain is facilitated by historic routes such as Camino Diablo and Vasco Road. From the heights of Brushy Peak down to the drainage of Marsh Creek and Kellogg Creek, the map captures a period of transition as mid-century infrastructure began to overlay traditional California ranch lands.