1949 Map of Oakland East

About this map

Berkeley Hills and the winding course of San Leandro Creek dominate this post-war landscape, capturing the rapid expansion of the East Bay before the densification of later decades. The map highlights massive institutional and recreational tracts that still define the region, from the University of California campus and Stadium in the north to the sprawling grounds of Mills College and the Oak Knoll Naval Hospital further south. The survey reveals a complex urban-wildland interface, where densely packed residential blocks in Oakland and Piedmont abruptly give way to the forested slopes of Joaquin Miller Park and Redwood Regional Park. Historical landmarks like the Chabot Observatory and the Mountain View Cemetery are meticulously detailed, while the Upper San Leandro Reservoir and Lake Temescal Regional Park illustrate the vital role of water management in this growing metropolitan corridor.