1955 Map of Isabel Valley

About this map

Lick Observatory stands as a prominent landmark on the western edge of this mid-century survey, overlooking the complex terrain of the Diablo Range. The map detail centers on the Isabel Valley and the sprawling Los Huecos land grant area, characterized by a dense network of ridges such as Bollinger Ridge and Hays Ridge. While the landscape is primarily dominated by natural features like Mt Isabel and Mt Helen, the map records essential infrastructure of the era, including a remote Landing Strip and a series of primitive jeep trails. Water management in this arid environment is evident through several named reservoirs and the drainage systems of Horse Valley Creek and the Middle Fork Coyote Creek. Small named locales like Indian Springs and Grizzly Flats provide specific points of interest for local history researchers tracking land use and early settlements in Santa Clara County.