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1939 Map of La Crescenta

Name: 1939 Topographic Map of La Crescenta
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1942
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1942

About this map

The San Gabriel Mountains dominate the northern half of this Los Angeles County landscape, providing a stark contrast to the burgeoning valley developments of the late 1930s. The map captures a transitional moment for the Crescenta Valley, where the grid of La Crescenta and Montrose pushes up against the steep canyons. Significant local landmarks such as the Hillcrest Sanitarium and the Burbank YMCA Camp are visible, alongside established ranch lands like Big Tujunga Ranch and Ybarra Ranch.

Transport and water management are clearly defined, featuring the long corridor of Foothill Boulevard and the intricate drainage network of Big Tujunga Creek. The presence of numerous firebreaks carved into the slopes of Mt Lukens and Verdugo Mountains illustrates the constant interaction between human settlement and the wildfire-prone mountain terrain. Local genealogists will find value in the detailed street layouts of Tujunga and Verdugo City during this period of pre-war suburban expansion.