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1959 Map of Point Sal

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Point Sal
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1966
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1966

About this map

The Guadalupe Oil Field and the surrounding agricultural landscape define this coastal stretch of Santa Barbara County during the late 1950s. The town of Guadalupe stands as a central hub where the Southern Pacific railroad meets the Cabrillo Highway, facilitating the transport of goods from the surrounding Santa Maria Valley. To the south, the industrial character of the region is evident at the Airox Mine and NTU Mine near Casmalia, revealing the importance of mineral extraction alongside the established ranching traditions at Marshallia Ranch and Corralitos Ranch.

Coastal geography is dominated by the dramatic Point Sal Ridge and the San Antonio Terrace, a landscape of shifting dunes and rugged bluffs. The boundary of a Military Reservation marks the southern portion of the map, while Point Sal Beach State Park provides public access to the shoreline. Small rail settlements and junctions like Betteravia Junction, Narlon, and Tangair trace the path of the railroad as it follows the coast south toward Purisima Point.