1903 Map of Santa Susana

About this map

The Santa Susana Mountains form a formidable barrier across this 1900 survey, separating the burgeoning ranch lands of the San Fernando Valley from the Santa Clara River valley. This era marks a critical transition in Southern California transportation history as the Southern Pacific (Santa Barbara Line) seeks passage through the rugged interior. Significant engineering feats are documented here, specifically the Santa Susana Tunnel near the Santa Susana Pass and the Fernando Tunnel providing rail access to the north. Settlements like Newhall and Saugus serve as vital junctions where the Southern Pacific R.R. meets the foothills. The landscape is dominated by the sprawling Santa Barbara National Forest and the historical footprint of the Ex Mission San Fernando, while numerous canyons such as San Francisquito Canyon and Placerita Creek carve through the high ridges of Oak Ridge.