1952 Map of Oat Mountain

About this map

The Santa Susana Mountains dominate the upper half of this topographical study, giving way to the expanding suburban grids of the north San Fernando Valley. In the mid-century period, the landscape transitioned from the oil-rich ruggedness of Pico Canyon and its Historic Refinery in the north to the blossoming residential developments of Chatsworth and Granada Hills in the south. The rugged northwestern terrain includes the famed Iverson Ranch and the distinctive rock formations of the Garden of the Gods, often utilized as film locations. The Southern Pacific railroad cuts through the valley floor, passing near Oakwood Cem and several civic institutions including the Military Academy and various local high schools. Numerous canyons like Aliso Canyon and Browns Canyon drain the highlands, framing isolated residential pockets such as Twin Lakes and Deer Lake Highlands.