1975 Map of Los Angeles

About this map

Los Angeles and the surrounding Southern California coastline are documented here during the mid-1970s, illustrating the dense urban expansion from Santa Monica east through Pasadena and El Monte. The map provides a detailed view of the regional infrastructure, including the Southern Pacific rail lines and the iconic Pacific Coast Hwy winding along the Santa Barbara Channel. To the north, the transition from the Santa Ynez Mountains to the high desert is marked by federal installations like Edwards Air Force Base and the Flight Test Center (NASA) near Rosamond Lake. These aeronautical and military sites contrast with the protected landscapes of the Los Padres National Forest and the San Rafael Wilderness, showing how mid-century defense and aerospace sectors shared the landscape with significant early conservation efforts and expanding suburban centers like Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley.