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1944 Map of Redondo

Name: 1944 Topographic Map of Redondo
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1944
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1944

About this map

Santa Monica Bay defines the western edge of this wartime landscape, where the sprawling industrialization of South Bay and the Palos Verdes Peninsula is caught mid-expansion. The map reveals a dense network of early petroleum and manufacturing infrastructure, including the Standard Oil Co Refinery at El Segundo and the Columbia Steel Corporation in Torrance. These industrial hubs are linked by the extensive Pacific Electric railway lines, which served both commuters and freight long before the freeway era dominated Los Angeles.

Along the coast, established beach communities like Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach appear alongside specialized maritime structures such as the Standard Oil Co Pier and Edison Intake Pier. To the south, the topography of Los Palos Verdes remains relatively open, punctuated by landmarks like the Chadwick Seaside Sch and a Golf Course Campesina, providing a sharp contrast to the grid-heavy urban planning visible in Inglewood and Gardena.