1959 Map of Santa Maria

About this map

The Santa Maria valley emerges as a significant industrial and agricultural hub in this late-1950s survey, defined by the expansion of the Santa Maria Oil Field and Orcutt Oil Field. The cityscape is dense with civic infrastructure, from Allen Hancock College to the Santa Maria Union High School, while the Santa Maria Valley Railroad and Southern Pacific RR facilitate the movement of goods through the valley floor. To the east, the Santa Maria River and Sisquoc River meet near the Sierra Madre Mountains, where the newly established Twitchell Reservoir highlights mid-century water management efforts. The southern portion of the map transitions into the rolling Purisima Hills and the edge of Vandenberg Air Force Base, reflecting the region's importance to both energy production and national defense.