1955 Map of Otay Mesa

About this map

The international border with Mexico anchors the southern edge of this landscape, where Otay Mesa transitions into the rugged slopes of the San Ysidro Mountains. Military and aviation infrastructure dominates the central mesa, defined by the San Diego Naval Auxiliary Air Station and the Brown Field complex, including the nearby Brown Field Bombing Range. The northern terrain is shaped by the Otay River valley and the massive Otay Reservoir, held by the Savage Dam. This 1955 survey captures the region's agricultural roots alongside its defense-era expansion. Scattered family-named holdings like Otay Ranch, Bird Ranch, and Kuebler Ranch persist even as an extensive Aqueduct and Filtration Plant signal the growing industrial water needs of the San Diego area. Local landmarks such as the Alta School and the Coronado Wye provide specific points of interest for genealogists tracing the early development of this borderland community.