1953 Map of San Fernando

About this map

San Fernando sits at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains as a bustling center of the northern Pacoima Valley during the mid-century period. The map reveals a transition from the agricultural roots of the San Fernando Mission and its nearby San Fernando Mission Cem to a rapidly urbanizing landscape defined by major infrastructure. Significant water management features like the Upper San Fernando Reservoir and Hansen Dam dominate the lower terrain, designed to control the flow of the Pacoima Wash and Tujunga Wash. To the north, the steep canyons of the Angeles National Forest, including Wilson Canyon and Pacoima Canyon, provide a stark vertical backdrop to the gridded streets of Sylmar and the campus of the Olive View Sanatorium. The Southern Pacific railroad and major boulevards like Sepulveda Blvd anchor the valley's transportation network during this era of growth.