Loading map...

1941 Map of Las Bolsas

Name: 1941 Topographic Map of Las Bolsas
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1963
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1963

About this map

The coastal edge of Orange County at the start of the 1940s reveals a landscape defined by wetlands and recreational hunting grounds before the post-war suburban boom. Between Seal Beach and Huntington Beach, the shoreline is dotted with marshy inlets and exclusive sporting facilities like the Bolsa Chica Gun Club and Sunset Gun Club. The presence of the Pacific Electric railway running parallel to the coast highlights the importance of the "Red Car" system in connecting these seaside communities to the larger Los Angeles basin.

Inland, the grid of agricultural roads like Bolsa Ave and Smeltzer Ave supports small settlements such as Wintersburg and the Springdale Sch. This era captures the region's transition, where hydraulic infrastructure like the Las Bolsas Ditch managed the low-lying terrain. The coastal defense and maritime industry are evident in the Long Beach Breakwater, marking the northwestern boundary near the Los Angeles County line.