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1953 Map of San Jose West

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of San Jose West
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

Santa Clara County’s post-war transition is evident across this landscape, where the agricultural past of the Santa Clara Valley meets rapid mid-century suburban expansion. The urban centers of Santa Clara and San Jose are densely detailed, showing the concentration of civic life around Washington Square, the Post Office, and City Hall. Educational and religious institutions anchor the growing neighborhoods, from the historic grounds of Bellarmine College Preparatory and the Carmelite Monastery to dozens of local schools like Jefferson Union Sch and Willow Glen High Sch.

Infrastructure for a mobile era is prominent, featuring the Bayshore Highway, El Camino Real, and the San Jose Municipal Airport. Notable landmarks include the Winchester Mystery House and the Rosicrucian Museum and Planetarium, alongside industrial sites like the Clay Pit near Burbank. Waterways such as the Guadalupe River and Los Gatos Creek weave through the valley, while the Southern Pacific railroad lines continue to serve the region's commerce and connectivity.