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1947 Map of Point Sal

Name: 1947 Topographic Map of Point Sal
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

Guadalupe and the surrounding Santa Maria Valley are depicted here during the mid-century, showcasing a landscape defined by intensive agriculture, rail transport, and military expansion. The Southern Pacific line acts as the primary corridor through this coastal region, connecting the settlement of Betteravia—noted for its proximity to an industrial Oil Field and Stockyards—with the southern reaches of the Camp Cooke Military Reservation.

Coastal geography is dominated by the massive Guadalupe Dunes and the prominent headlands of Point Sal and Purisima Point. The presence of the Marshallia Ranch and smaller stops like Shuman and Tangair illustrates the rural settlement patterns before later development. To the east, the Casmalia Hills rise abruptly, featuring peaks such as Mt Lospe, while the Santa Maria River marks the northern boundary of Santa Barbara County, separating it from San Luis Obispo County.