1961 Map of San Jose West

About this map

Mission Santa Clara de Asis and the surrounding University of Santa Clara campus anchor the north of this valley study, which documents the rapid mid-century expansion across Santa Clara County. The map details the dense suburban transformation of San Jose, Santa Clara, and Campbell, showing an intricate network of residential streets replacing what was once an agrarian landscape. Significant educational and cultural institutions are prominent, including the Rosicrucian Museum and Planetarium and San Jose State College. The Southern Pacific rail lines and the Nimitz Freeway facilitate the region's connectivity, while the natural courses of the Guadalupe River and Los Gatos Creek wind through the developing neighborhoods of Willow Glen and Burbank. This survey captures the Santa Clara Valley just as it was becoming a preeminent technological and residential hub.