1961 Map of San Jose West

About this map

Mission Santa Clara de Asis Historical Monument anchors the heart of this post-war landscape, situated alongside the University of Santa Clara. The map documents a period of rapid suburban transformation across the Santa Clara Valley, where vast residential tracts and numerous new schools like Wilcox High Sch and Buchser High Sch are shown emerging between the established downtowns of Santa Clara and San Jose. The industrial and transportation infrastructure of the early 1960s is clearly visible, including the San Jose Municipal Airport and the path of the Bayshore Freeway. From the orchards and early developments in Campbell to the residential growth in Willow Glen, the survey captures the shifting character of the valley floor as it moved away from its agricultural roots. The southern reaches near Los Gatos and Saratoga show the early edges of the suburban sprawl meeting the foothills, connected by the Southern Pacific rail lines.