1960 Map of La Costa Valley

About this map

Vallecitos Atomic Laboratory stands as a prominent marker of mid-century scientific industry in this region of Alameda County. This 1960 revision documents a transition between historical land grants and emerging infrastructure, with the boundaries of the Valle de San Jose and Ex Mission San Jose defining the landscape. Water management and transportation networks are central to the area's development, illustrated by the Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct cutting across the terrain and the parallel routes of the Southern Pacific and Western Pacific railroads. The map captures the complex topography of the La Costa Valley, framed by Apperson Ridge and Waurab Ridge. From the small settlement at Scotts Corner to the US Veterans Administration facility near Arroyo Valle, the map provides a look at the rural character of the Sunol and Livermore areas before later suburban expansion.