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1955 Map of Santa Cruz

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Santa Cruz
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

The Salinas River valley forms the central corridor of this mid-century coastal survey, anchoring a network of agricultural communities and military installations. The landscape transitions from the coastal waters of Monterey Bay through the Gabilan Range and into the western edge of the Central Valley. Large federal landholdings are a defining characteristic, including the extensive Hunter Liggett Military Reservation and the protected peaks of Pinnacles National Monument.

Logistical infrastructure of the era is represented by the Southern Pacific railroad lines connecting towns like Salinas and Watsonville. Smaller inland landmarks provide vital clues for local historians, such as the Lonoak School and Cantua School, while the shoreline features wartime-era sites like Camp McQuaide and Fort Ord. The map captures a moment when coastal towns and interior ranching districts were increasingly linked by state routes 101 and 1.