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1959 Map of Santa Maria

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Santa Maria
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1983
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1983

About this map

The Santa Maria Valley Railroad cuts through a landscape defined by rapid mid-century growth and a deep-rooted petroleum economy. This era shows the urban expansion of Santa Maria pushing south and east, with a distinct purple tint marking the development added between the original 1959 survey and the 1982 update. The city center is densely packed with local institutions like Allan Hancock College, the County Fairgrounds, and numerous neighborhood schools such as Alvin Ave School and Cook St School.

South of the main settlement, the land transitions into industrial use and recreation. Extensive oil wells and an Oil Refinery dominate the valley floor, highlighting the region's primary industry. Large-scale features like the Santa Maria Airport and the adjacent Santa Maria Airbase siding underscore the area's strategic importance. Along the northern border, the Santa Maria River and Nipomo Mesa provide a natural boundary, while the Cabrillo Highway links the town to the coast.