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1953 Map of La Mesa

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of La Mesa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1959
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1959

About this map

Mission Gorge and the rugged canyonlands north of La Mesa dominate this mid-century survey, showcasing a landscape in transition as postwar suburban expansion pushes toward the foothills. The residential street grids of Normal Heights, Kensington Park, and East San Diego define the southwestern corner, while San Diego State College sits at the edge of the developing Alvarado Freeway corridor.

To the north, the terrain is shaped by military and natural features, including the Camp Elliott naval reservation and the heights of Fortuna Mtn and Cowles Mtn. The San Diego River carves through the Mission Valley toward Grantville, providing a stark contrast between the dense neighborhoods to the south and the open, canyon-cut lands to the north. Early radio infrastructure is visible through installations like Radio Sta KFMB and Radio Sta KSDO, marking the era's technological footprint on the hillsides.