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1959 Map of Santa Maria

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Santa Maria
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

Santa Maria anchors this mid-century survey of the Santa Maria Valley, revealing a community balancing agricultural roots with a booming petroleum economy. The northern reaches are defined by the wide, sandy bed of the Santa Maria River and the rising terrain of Nipomo Mesa, while the southern landscape is heavily marked by the Santa Maria Oil Field, dotted with numerous oil wells and an oil refinery. The city's growth is evident in the concentration of educational institutions, including Allan Hancock College and the Joint Union High Sch.

Transportation networks are central to the area's development, highlighted by the tracks of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad and the expansive Santa Maria Airport. Local social hubs like the County Fairgrounds and Waller Park appear alongside smaller settlements like Midco and Rosemary, illustrating the shift from open valley floor to organized urban expansion. The survey captures the transition of the region as industrial infrastructure began to intertwine with residential neighborhoods.