1959 Map of Oakland East

About this map

Oakland, Piedmont, and Berkeley dominate the western hills and tidal flats, showing the intensive post-war urban expansion of the East Bay. The map captures the complex social infrastructure of the mid-century, from the University of California campus and Mills College to specialized institutions like the Calif School for Blind and Deaf. While the lowlands are densely developed along the Southern Pacific railroad and the burgeoning Freeway network, the eastern ridges remain dominated by vast recreational and watershed lands. These include Redwood Regional Park and Chabot Regional Park, which preserve the steep terrain surrounding the Upper San Leandro Reservoir. Historical land grants like San Antonio (V and D Peralta) and Laguna de los Palos Colorados are still marked, providing a clear link between 19th-century ranchos and modern municipal boundaries.