1939 Map of San Mateo

About this map

San Bruno Mountain and the high ridges of the Peninsula dominate the terrain just south of the San Francisco city line in the years preceding the post-war suburban boom. Along the western edge of the valley, the Southern Pacific rail line threads together a string of early communities from Daly City and Colma down to San Mateo and San Carlos. This era is defined by significant institutional footprints, from the cluster of memorial sites like Cypress Lawn Cem and the Golden Gate National Cem to specialized facilities such as the California Sanitorium. Along the Pacific Ocean, small coastal outposts like Rockaway Beach and Montara are isolated by the steep terrain of Pedro Mountain and the Devils Slide. The eastern shore features the industrial and maritime activity of Hunter Pt and Candlestick Pt, while the San Mateo Toll Bridge provides a vital link across the bay.