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1981 Map of Long Beach

Name: 1981 Topographic Map of Long Beach
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

Palos Verdes Hills dominate the coastal topography of this 1981 survey, providing a physical anchor to the dense suburban expansion of the Los Angeles Basin. This period shows the mature development of industrial and transportation corridors, from the sprawling Los Angeles International Airport in the north to the complex maritime infrastructure of San Pedro Bay. The map captures the coastline as a series of managed spaces, featuring Dockweiler Beach State Park and the massive breakwaters protecting the Los Angeles Middle Harbor.

Significant military and civic landmarks are clearly delineated, including the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Sta and the historic Queen Mary moored at the waterfront. The drainage patterns of the Los Angeles River and San Gabriel River illustrate how the natural watershed was engineered to support the burgeoning municipalities of Long Beach, Torrance, and Compton. From the Point Vicente Lighthouse to the oil-rich heights of Signal Hill, the map documents a region defined by its intersection of global trade, aviation, and coastal residency.