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1949 Map of Long Beach

Name: 1949 Topographic Map of Long Beach
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1949
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1949

About this map

Santa Monica and the burgeoning South Bay communities define the coastal landscape of this late-1940s survey. The map details the dense urban expansion across the Los Angeles basin, reaching toward Torrance and South Gate during a period of massive post-war growth. Inland, established centers like Whittier and Downey appear alongside smaller aviation and industrial hubs such as Hawthorne and El Segundo.

The maritime reach of the region is exceptionally documented, spanning from the San Pedro Bay harbor complex and the defensive installations at Ft MacArthur Upper Reservation to the remote outposts of the Channel Islands. The vast Pacific Ocean separates the mainland from Santa Catalina Island and San Clemente Island, providing a clear view of the navigational routes through the San Pedro Channel and Outer Santa Barbara Passage. For those studying mid-century Southern California, this map illustrates the precise moment when formerly agricultural lands were rapidly transitioning into the modern metropolitan grid.