1940 Map of La Verne

About this map

The San Gabriel Mountains dominate the northern landscape of this survey, where firebreaks and transmission lines carve through the steep terrain above San Dimas Canyon. In the lower elevations, the transition from the wilderness of Wolfskill Camp to the structured growth of La Verne and Claremont is visible just before the region's mid-century expansion. The map documents a sophisticated water management and educational infrastructure, featuring the San Dimas Dam and the specialized Water Softening Plant. The academic character of the area is already well-established by 1940, with the campuses of Scripps College, Pomona College, and the Webb School clearly delineated. Agricultural and industrial footprints are marked by the Pacific Electric railroad lines and the Metropolitan Aqueduct, which intersect the San Bernardino Base Line in a grid that defines the developing valley floor.