1960 Map of La Costa Valley

About this map

The Vallecitos Atomic Laboratory stands as a prominent technological landmark within the Vallecitos Valley, signaling the area's mid-century role in nuclear research. This 1960s landscape in southern Alameda County reveals a complex network of infrastructure, dominated by the Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct and the Vallecitos Road corridor near Scotts Corner. The terrain is defined by the sharp elevations of Maguire Peaks and the prominent Waurab Ridge, which separate the various drainage basins of San Antonio Creek and Alameda Creek. Historically, the map provides detail on the boundaries of the Ex Mission San Jose, illustrating the transition from Spanish colonial land grants to modern industrial and utility development. The presence of a Gravel Pit and multiple gaging stations suggests an economy focused on resource extraction and water management for the growing Bay Area.