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1948 Map of Rancho Santa Fe

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Rancho Santa Fe
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1961
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1961

About this map

Rancho Santa Fe and the surrounding coastal canyons of northern San Diego County appear here in the late 1940s, just as the ranch estates and agricultural tracts were maturing. The landscape is defined by the winding course of the San Dieguito River and its various tributaries, including Escondido Creek and San Marcos Creek. The map documents the presence of early land grants and estates such as Fairbanks Ranch, Osuna, and Rancho de los Quiotes, reflecting the area's transition from traditional ranching to more modern residential development.

Industrial activity is scattered throughout the hills, evidenced by a Pyrophyllite Mine and a Stone Quarry (Aband) near the river. Water management is central to the terrain, with the San Dieguito Reservoir and the western edge of Lake Hodges providing critical infrastructure for the citrus groves and residential enclaves. In the north, the elevations of Mt Whitney and Double Peak overlook the small settlement of Harmony Grove, while the coastal drainage flows toward the San Elijo Lagoon.