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1900 Map of San Luis

Name: 1900 Topographic Map of San Luis
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1930
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1930

About this map

The coastal landscapes of San Luis Obispo and the surrounding ranchos are captured here as they appeared at the end of the 19th century. The Southern Pacific RR serves as the primary artery for the region, winding through the hills from Santa Margarita down to the sea. The maritime economy is centered on San Luis Obispo Bay, where Port Harford and Mallagh Landing provide critical shipping points for the inland agricultural and mineral outputs.

Evidence of early industrial activity is found at the Asphalt Mines near Maxwellton, while the southern reaches of the map show the developing settlements of Pismo, Oceano, and Arroyo Grande. From the iconic volcanic plug of Morro Rock in Morro Bay to the shifting environment of Osa Flaco Lake, the map documents a period when the Spanish land grants, such as Corral de Piedra and Nipomo, still defined the local geography.