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1961 Map of Half Moon Bay

Name: 1961 Topographic Map of Half Moon Bay
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1980
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1980

About this map

The coastal communities of San Mateo County are captured here during a period of transition as mid-century urban expansion reaches the shore. Half Moon Bay serves as the primary hub, surrounded by a series of distinct beach settlements including Miramar and El Granada Beach. The presence of the Ocean Shore Railroad (Abandoned) alignment traces a former era of rail-connected tourism along the cliffs, while the inland canyons like Digges Canyon Creek and Arroyo Leon maintain their agricultural character.

Genealogists and local historians can locate specific community landmarks such as the IOOF Cem and the Lobitos Schoolhouse near the southern edge of the survey. The landscape is defined by its relationship with the Pacific Ocean, from the sheltered Pillar Point Harbor in the north to the rocky outcrops of Miramontes Pt and Seal Rock. Land grants like Corral de Tierra (Vasquez) and Miramontes reflect the deep-rooted territorial divisions that shaped this portion of the peninsula.