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1954 Map of Santa Cruz

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Santa Cruz
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

Santa Cruz dominates the eastern coastline of this mid-century survey, its urban grid extending from the San Lorenzo River to the shores of Monterey Bay. The map highlights a dense collection of civic and religious institutions, including St Josephs Shrine, Mission Hosp, and several local schools like Mission Hill Jr High Sch and Branciforte Sch. Along the waterfront, the iconic Boardwalk and Municipal Pier mark the city's identity as a coastal destination, while the Coast Guard Reservation sits at Pt Santa Cruz.

Beyond the city limits, the terrain transitions into the rugged gulches and marine terraces of the Refugio region. Small settlements such as Gordola and Majors appear along the Southern Pacific railroad line, which skirts the bluffs of the Pacific Ocean. Notable natural features including Natural Bridges Beach State Park and the sandstone formations of Table Rock and Sand Hill Bluff provide a detailed look at the coastline before late-century development intensified.