1960 Map of La Costa Valley

About this map

The Vallecitos Atomic Laboratory sits prominently in the north, representing the nuclear energy research era of the mid-twentieth century near the Valle de San Jose. This landscape is defined by its water infrastructure and protected lands, dominated by the massive San Antonio Reservoir and the Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct snaking through the hills. To the south, the terrain becomes increasingly steep and undeveloped, preserved within the Sunol Regional Wilderness and Mission Peak Regional Preserve. A few localized industrial signatures are present, such as the Gravel Pits along San Antonio Creek, while Scotts Corner provides a small reference point for local travel. The map illustrates a complex geography where high-technology facilities and critical water systems meet the expansive ridges of Apperso n Ridge and Sunol Ridge.