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1949 Map of San Marcos

Name: 1949 Topographic Map of San Marcos
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1949
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1949

About this map

The San Marcos Mountains and Merriam Mountains dominate this northern San Diego County landscape, shaping the development of the valleys below. In the late 1940s, the region transitioned from rural grazing lands and orchards toward more established educational and infrastructure hubs, evidenced by the presence of Palomar Junior College and High School and the San Marcos Valley Airport. Transportation is anchored by the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad, which skirts the southern foothills near San Marcos.

Local life at mid-century centers around small settlements like Buena and Twin Oaks, where family-scale farming and small quarries dot the terrain. Water management is critical in this arid environment, shown by the Pechstein Res and various creek systems like Agua Hedionda Creek and San Marcos Creek. The map also captures several local schoolhouses, including Rich-mar Sch and Richland Sch, and the San Marcos Cem.