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1961 Map of Half Moon Bay

Name: 1961 Topographic Map of Half Moon Bay
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1969
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1969

About this map

The coastal shelf of San Mateo County is defined here by the transition from the marine terraces of Half Moon Bay to the steep canyons of the Santa Cruz Mountains. At the northern edge, Pillar Point Harbor and its protecting breakwater shelter the coast near El Granada, while the town of Half Moon Bay serves as the central hub for the surrounding agricultural and residential districts. Significant inland features include the deep incisions of Pilarcitos Creek and Arroyo Leon, which carved the valleys supporting early homesteads and roads.

Local history is preserved in the location of the Lobitos Schoolhouse and the Tunitas Sch, marking the rural education centers of the early twentieth century. Traces of previous infrastructure are visible in the Old Railroad Grade winding near the coast, while an Oil Derrick in the hills above Pilarcitos Creek points to mid-century industrial exploration. From Martins Beach in the south to the Military Res at Pillar Point, the map documents a landscape of coastal beaches and steep ridges like Irish Ridge.