1948 Map of Laguna Beach

About this map

The coastal communities of Newport Beach and Laguna Beach are captured here in the late 1940s, a period of transition before post-war suburban development fully reshaped the Orange County shoreline. The San Joaquin Hills dominate the interior, their steep ridges cut by numerous drainages like Moro Canyon and Los Trancos Canyon that descend toward the Gulf of Santa Catalina. Along the water, a series of distinct coves and points define the landscape, including the private enclaves at Emerald Bay and the undeveloped stretch of Crystal Cove.