1989 Map of Santa Maria

About this map

Vandenberg Air Force Base dominates the coastline of this Central Coast survey, illustrating the significant military presence that shaped the region's late 20th-century development. Inland, the map captures the transition from the fertile agriculture of the Santa Maria River valley to the steep elevations of the San Rafael Mountains and the Sierra Madre Mountains. Historical depth is visible through the La Purisima Mission State Historical Monument near Lompoc, while the industrial landscape is represented by the Southern Pacific railroad corridor and smaller settlements like Betteravia. The map's bathymetric data reveals the submarine landscape beyond the Santa Lucia Escarpment, showing the relationship between the coastal shelf and the deep Santa Barbara Basin. Offshore, the northern Channel Islands National Park including San Miguel Island and Santa Rosa Island are detailed with terrestrial landmarks such as Cuyler Harbor and East Point.