1960 Map of Long Beach

About this map

Long Beach and the massive urban expansion of Southern California anchor this 1960 coastal study, which highlights the dense grid of postwar settlements spreading inland toward Whittier and Montebello. While the mainland reveals a complex network of residential and industrial growth in places like Santa Fe Springs and Willowbrook, the vast Pacific Ocean dominates the majority of the view. The map provides a detailed record of the Channel Islands, showing the isolated terrains of Santa Cruz Island, San Nicolas Island, and the rugged coastlines of Santa Catalina Island with its prominent Avalon Bay. Strategic military and maritime features are visible at the coast, including Ft MacArthur Upper Reservation and the industrial infrastructure surrounding Terminal Island. This mid-century perspective captures the region just as the suburban sprawl was beginning to unify formerly distinct towns like Hynes and Clearwater into the modern metropolis.