Loading map...

1957 Map of Santa Maria

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Santa Maria
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

The Camp Cooke Military Reservation dominates the coastal terrace of northern Santa Barbara County on this mid-century survey. This era shows the region's transition between agricultural roots and industrial expansion, with the John Manville Plant and extensive Oil Fields near Orcutt and Bicknell appearing alongside established company towns like Betteravia. The inland valleys are anchored by Santa Maria and the Danish-influenced settlement of Solvang in the Santa Ynez Valley.

Along the coast, the Southern Pacific railroad tracks follow the shoreline through remote stops like Tangair, Sudden, and Jalama. Offshore, the survey provides detailed topographic views of San Miguel Island and Santa Rosa Island, including landmarks such as Black Mountain and Bechers Bay. The landscape is framed by the steep Santa Ynez Mountains and the vast Los Padres National Forest, illustrating the rugged interface between California's coastal ranges and the Pacific Ocean.