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1939 Map of La Crescenta

Name: 1939 Topographic Map of La Crescenta
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1946
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1946

About this map

Mt Lukens and the Big Gabriel Mountains dominate the northern terrain of this 1930s survey, showing the steep canyons and firebreaks of the Los Angeles National Forest. Below the mountain front, the communities of Tujunga, La Crescenta, and La Cañada are seen in a period of rapid suburban expansion along Foothill Blvd. The map reveals a landscape still transitioning from rural ranching to residential development, with landmarks like the Hillcrest Sanitarium and various mountain camps such as Camp Sterling and the Burbank YMCA Camp situated at the forest edge.

Deep canyons such as Haines Canyon and Pickens Canyon drain into the developed valleys, where street grids like those in Verdugo City and Montrose are clearly defined. Local history researchers will find specific ranch names such as Big Tujunga Ranch and Ybarra Ranch, alongside vital early infrastructure including the Big Tujunga Guard Station and the Transmission Line cutting across the foothills.