Loading map...

1955 Map of Otay Mesa

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Otay Mesa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

Otay Mountain and the San Ysidro Mountains dominate this 1955 landscape, where the rugged topography of the Southern California border meets the structured development of the Otay River Valley. The map captures a moment when the San Diego Naval Auxiliary Air Station Brown Field and its adjacent Brown Field Bombing Range occupied significant territory south of the valley.

Evidence of early rural life is preserved through family landmarks like Otay Ranch, Bird Ranch, and Kuebler Ranch. Hydrological management is central to the area's character, anchored by the Lower Otay Reservoir and its associated Filtration Plant. Small social hubs, such as the Alta School and the Lower Otay Camping Area, appear alongside industrial traces like a solitary Prospect. The southern edge is defined by the United States Mexico international boundary, marked by a system of firebreaks and jeep trails.