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1919 Map of San Simeon

Name: 1919 Topographic Map of San Simeon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1943
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1943

About this map

The coastal interface of the Santa Lucia Range and the Pacific Ocean defines this territory during a period of established ranching and quicksilver mining. Hearst Ranch and the Old Castro House occupy the northern coast near San Simeon Bay, a landscape where cattle operations and early coastal landings like Leffingwell Landing formed the backbone of the local economy. The interior mountains are marked by industrial extraction, notably the Oceanic Mine and the Cambria Mine, which along with several abandoned sites like the Keystone Mine, point to the region's history as a significant source of cinnabar.

Rural life is anchored by a network of small school districts including Home School and Olmstead School, serving dispersed settlements like The Oaks and Harmony Valley. The coastal village of Cambria sits at the confluence of Santa Rosa Creek, while the northern terrain transitions into the high peaks of Piedra Blanca. This survey, conducted by R. B. Marshall and his team, records the rugged topography before modern highway developments altered the isolation of the Central Coast.