1902 Map of Downey

About this map

The San Gabriel River and Los Angeles River define this coastal plain during a period of agricultural expansion and early rail development. Large Mexican land grant divisions like Santa Gertrudis, Los Cerritos, and Los Alamitos still organize the landscape, even as newer settlements like Downey and Artesia emerge along the growing transportation corridors. The map highlights the transition from cattle ranching to smaller farm plots and the rise of citrus and oil-related activity, evidenced by the clustered structures at Whittier and the presence of Bouton Well.