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1979 Map of Los Angeles

Name: 1979 Topographic Map of Los Angeles
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1979
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1979

About this map

The San Fernando Valley dominates this late-1970s landscape, illustrating the dense urban expansion of Los Angeles, Glendale, and Pasadena as they push against the steep slopes of the San Gabriel Mountains. The map provides a detailed view of the regional infrastructure that defined this era, including the Southern Pacific rail lines and the maturing freeway system, such as the Golden State Freeway and Santa Monica Freeway.

Beyond the city core, the terrain shifts into the Santa Monica Mountains and the northern reaches of Santa Monica Bay, where Will Rogers State Beach meets the coast. To the west, the developing communities of Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, and Santa Susana appear as distinct hubs connected to the greater metropolis. Notable conservation and water management features, including the Sespe Condor Sanctuary, Castaic Lake, and Bouquet Reservoir, highlight the critical relationship between the growing urban center and its surrounding natural resources.