1899 Map of San Mateo

About this map

San Miguel and the neighboring hills of Pueblo Lands of San Francisco dominate the northern peninsula, showing the transition from the city's early street grids to the ranchos of San Mateo County. This 1892 survey, reprinted in 1913, captures the critical water infrastructure and transportation corridors that shaped the Bay Area. The massive reservoirs of San Andreas Lake and Crystal Springs Lake follow the rift valley, held back by the Crystal Springs Dam, while the Southern Pacific R.R. and the Monterey Line dictate the placement of early commuter hubs. From the densely clustered Cemeteries near Colma to the rural Alms House in Alms House Canyon, the map illustrates a landscape of institutional growth and agricultural holdings. Coastal features like Laguna Salada and the San Pedro Valley remain largely undeveloped, contrasting with the emerging industrial character of South San Francisco.