1896 Map of Downey
USGS Topo · Published 1896About this map
Downey and the surrounding Los Angeles Basin coastal plain are captured during a period of agricultural expansion and early railroad development in the late 19th century. This survey documents the transition from massive Mexican land grants to subdivided townships and burgeoning citrus hubs. Names like Paso De Bartolo, Santa Gertrudes, and Los Cerritos reflect the legacy of the ranchos, while the arrival of the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe R.R. and Southern Pacific R.R. fueled the growth of new settlements such as Whittier and Norwalk. Notable landmarks of the era include the Poor Farm Sta. and the water sources critical to the region's survival, such as Fulton Wells and Bouton Well. Near the coast, the landscape remains largely undeveloped around San Pedro Bay, with the Los Angeles River and San Gabriel River carving shifting paths across the plain toward Alamitos Bay.
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Editions of this 1896 Downey Map
This is the sole edition of this map. No revisions or reprints were ever made.
Historical Maps of Willowville Through Time
5 maps found
