Loading map...

1939 Map of El Cajon

Name: 1939 Topographic Map of El Cajon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

El Cajon and the surrounding river valleys are captured here just before the era of rapid postwar suburbanization, showing a landscape defined by ranching and newly engineered water systems. The San Diego River corridor serves as the primary axis for development, with the El Capitan Reservoir and its prominent Dam representing critical infrastructure for the region's growth. To the west, the San Diego and Arizona Eastern railroad links the agricultural hubs of Santee and Lakeside, where the Edgemoor County Farm stands as a significant local institution.

Upland areas are characterized by tribal lands and family-named homesteads, including the Barona Valley Indian Reservation and Sequan Indian Reservation. Genealogists may find value in the scattered rural landmarks such as Dehesa School, the Daly Mine, and the Indian Cem. This survey preserves the exact footprint of early settlements like Bostonia, Moreno, and Foster before they were absorbed into the modern metropolitan fabric.