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1948 Map of San Juan Capistrano

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of San Juan Capistrano
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

San Juan Capistrano serves as the focal point for this 1940s survey of southern Orange County, where the historic Mission stands at the junction of the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad and the Ortega Highway. The landscape is defined by the broad drainage basins of San Juan Creek and Trabuco Creek, which cut through the Mission Viejo and Niguel Hills. At this time, the area remains largely agricultural and pastoral, punctuated by scattered landmarks like Galivan and the Veek Reservoir in the north.

Along the southwestern edge, the map meets the Pacific Ocean at South Laguna, providing a view of the coastal topography before modern suburban expansion. The inland terrain is marked by numerous seasonal drainages such as Aliso Creek and Oso Creek, reflecting the natural hydrology of the San Joaquin and Niguel areas. Significant industrial and agricultural indicators, including a Gravel Pit and several Windmill sites, suggest the local economy and land use during the late 1940s.