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1957 Map of Long Beach

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Long Beach
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

The Pacific Ocean dominates this late-1950s survey, illustrating the maritime and military significance of the Southern California coast. The mainland reveals the dense suburban expansion of the Los Angeles basin, including Culver City, Watts, and Compton, while the coastline is defined by the strategic presence of the Fort Mac Arthur Upper Reservation and Alamitos Naval Res. Much of the offshore area is designated as a Naval Air Missiles Test Area, underscoring the region's mid-century role in defense and aerospace testing.

Island life and geography are captured in detail across Santa Catalina Island, where Avalon Bay and Isthmus Cove mark the primary landings. Further offshore, the remote terrain of San Nicolas Island and San Clemente Island appears alongside the early boundaries of the Channel Island National Monument at Santa Barbara Island. The map provides a clear look at the landscape before modern development further altered these coastal and island environments.