1962 Map of Santa Maria

About this map

The coastal shelf of northern Santa Barbara County is dominated by the sprawling presence of Vandenberg Air Force Base and the U S Naval Missile Facility, reflecting the Cold War expansion of the California Central Coast. This 1962 edition illustrates a landscape transitioning from traditional agriculture and ranching toward strategic military utility. The Southern Pacific railroad hugs the shoreline, winding past isolated points like Point Arguello and Point Conception before turning inland through Lompoc. Inland, the valley floors are dotted with established agricultural centers such as Santa Maria, Guadalupe, and the Danish-founded community of Solvang. The map also details the offshore geography of the Santa Barbara Channel, providing extensive topographic and maritime data for San Miguel Island and Santa Rosa Island, including named points like Point Bennett and Beechers Bay.