1955 Map of Los Angeles

About this map

The Los Angeles metropolitan basin and its dramatic mountain backdrop appear here in the mid-1950s, revealing a landscape defined by the tension between rapid urban expansion and the preserved wilderness of the Angeles National Forest and Los Padres National Forest. While the dense grid of the San Fernando Valley and coastal cities like Santa Monica and Santa Barbara is well established, the interior remains a domain of resource extraction and rugged terrain. Historic mining operations such as the Frazier Borax Mine and Black Bob Mine dot the high country, while remote outposts like the Chuchupate Ranger Station and White Oaks Guard Station mark the reach of federal management. In the north, the Mojave Desert and Antelope Valley show a sparse network of roads and rail lines, including the Southern Pacific railroad, connecting isolated settlements and dry lake beds.