1956 Map of San Mateo

About this map

San Francisco Bay defines the eastern edge of this mid-century Peninsula landscape, where suburban expansion meets the marshlands of Brewer Island and the tidal flats near Coyote Point. The post-war era is evident in the dense residential development of San Mateo, Burlingame, and Belmont, all anchored by the Southern Pacific rail line and the growing Bayshore Freeway. This survey shows a community in transition, balancing large-scale recreation and institutional growth with established neighborhoods. Notable landmarks include the Bay Meadows Racetrack, the Fiesta Grounds, and the hilltop campus of the College of San Mateo. To the west, the terrain rises sharply toward Buri Buri Ridge and Black Mtn, where the San Mateo County Fish and Game Refuge protects the vital waters of the Crystal Springs Reservoir and San Andreas Lake.