Loading map...

1961 Map of Cupertino

Name: 1961 Topographic Map of Cupertino
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1980
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1980

About this map

The San Andreas Rift Zone creates a sharp geological divide here, separating the suburban expansion of San Jose and Sunnyvale from the steep slopes of Monte Bello Ridge. In this 1961 survey (photorevised in 1980), the transition from orchard-dotted hills to dense residential tracts is well underway. The map documents significant institutional growth in the South Bay, featuring campuses like De Anza College and West Valley Jr College, alongside religious landmarks such as St Joseph Seminary and Maryknoll Seminary.

Industrial activity remains visible at the large Cement Plant and Quarry near Permanente Creek, while recreational and water management features like Stevens Creek Park and the Stevens Creek Reservoir define the western foothills. The infrastructure of the era is captured through the Southern Pacific rail lines and the developing paths of the Junipero Serra Freeway and Stevens Creek Freeway, illustrating the mid-century urbanization of the Santa Clara Valley.