1959 Map of Santa Maria

About this map

Santa Maria anchors this mid-century survey, revealing a landscape defined by the intersection of intensive agriculture and the petroleum industry. The extensive Santa Maria Valley Oil Field dominates the southern half of the quadrangle, where a dense network of oil wells and oil sumps spreads across the valley floor. This industrial footprint contrasts with the growing urban grid of the city, which features a robust collection of civic and educational institutions including Allen Hancock College, Joint Union High Sch, and various neighborhood campuses like Miller St School and Alvin Ave School.