1966 Map of El Monte

About this map

The San Gabriel Mission anchors the historical core of this San Gabriel Valley landscape, surrounded by the suburban expansion of Alhambra, San Gabriel, and El Monte. The mid-1960s development pattern is clearly visible, with dense residential grids pressing against the Rio Hondo and San Gabriel River corridors. A major focal point is the Whittier Narrows Dam and the expansive Whittier Narrows Recreational Area, illustrating how post-war regional planning managed the valley's floodwaters while creating public space around Legg Lake. In the northern section, the Santa Anita Park racetrack stands as a prominent landmark alongside the rising San Marino and Arcadia foothills. To the south, the terrain shifts into the Montebello Hills and the vast grounds of Rose Hills Memorial Park, while the infrastructure of the Pacific Electric and Southern Pacific railroads reveals the industrial backbone that shaped these communities.