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1940 Map of Pico

Name: 1940 Topographic Map of Pico
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1940
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1940

About this map

The Santa Susana Mountains dominate this landscape, which straddles the county line between Ventura and Los Angeles. Surveyed in 1936, the map details a region defined by a intricate system of drainages, where the early oil history of the area is represented by the settlement of Pico and the namesake Pico Canyon. The topography reveals the high elevations that provided strategic vantages for fire management, most notably at the Oat Mtn Lookout.

Evidence of early ranching and development appears at La Quinta and within the flat stretches of Potrero Canyon to the north. The drainage patterns, including Las Llajas Canyon and Towsley Canyon, suggest a landscape where water and access dictated the placement of small outposts. This survey provides a specialized view of these peaks before post-war suburban expansion altered the edges of the Santa Clarita and San Fernando valleys.