1902 Map of Downey

About this map

The Los Angeles River and San Gabriel River dominate this coastal plain landscape at the turn of the century, a period when traditional Spanish ranchos were transitioning into established agricultural and suburban centers. The map preserves the boundaries of historic land grants such as Paso de Bartolo, Los Coyotes, and Santa Gertrudis, which still defined the region's geography. Rail expansion is evident through the numerous lines of the Southern Pacific R. R. and the A. T. & S. F. R. R. (Redondo Branch), supporting early industrial hubs like Downey and Whittier. Unique local landmarks of the era include Poor Farm Sta., the thermal mineral waters of Fulton Wells, and the early settlement of Spanish Town. In the south, the terrain rises toward Signal Hill before dropping to the marshy shores of Alamitos Bay and Rattlesnake Island.