1961 Map of Cupertino

About this map

The growing suburban landscape of the Santa Clara Valley transitions into the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mts during this early 1960s survey. Rapid residential expansion is evident as San Jose and Sunnyvale borders push toward the hills, while industrial activity remains prominent at the large Cement Plant near the headwaters of Permanente Creek. The map documents a dense concentration of educational and religious institutions, including St Joseph Seminary, Maryknoll Seminary, and numerous public schools like Cupertino High Sch that served the post-war population boom. In the western reaches, the terrain climbs toward Monte Bello Ridge and Castle Rock Ridge, where the environment remains largely undeveloped compared to the burgeoning city centers of Los Altos and Cupertino. Water management is a key feature of the landscape, highlighted by the Stevens Creek Reservoir and the drainage systems of Calabazas Creek and San Tomas Aquino Creek.