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1940 Map of Los Gatos

Name: 1940 Topographic Map of Los Gatos
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1961
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1961

About this map

Los Gatos serves as the gateway to the Santa Cruz Mountains in this 1940 War Department survey, where the transition from the Santa Clara Valley to high ridgelines is marked by small settlements and mountain retreats. The map documents the mid-century character of the region before modern suburban expansion, highlighting isolated institutions like Alma College and the unique community of Holy City. This era shows a landscape of scattered ranches and seasonal getaways, such as Lovely Glen Resort and Redwood Lodge, accessible via the winding roads and the Southern Pacific rail line.

Industrial and agricultural roots are evident in the presence of Mine Hill and several reservoirs, including Almaden Reservoir and Calero Reservoir. The rugged terrain is punctuated by significant peaks like Mt Umunhum and Loma Prieta, while the network of small schools such as Vine Hill Sch and Hazelbrook Sch speaks to the rural population that once lived deep within the canyons and along the various ridges like Skyland Ridge and Garrity Ridge.