1903 Map of Santa Susana

About this map

Santa Clara River drainage and the surrounding mountain passes define this early 20th-century landscape at the boundary of Ventura and Los Angeles Counties. The map records a critical era for the Southern Pacific R. R., showing the rail infrastructure required to navigate the area's complex topography. Notable engineering feats are documented, including the Santa Susana Tunnel and the New San Fernando Tunnel. Settlements like Newhall and Saugus appear as established junctions, while the northern terrain is dominated by the Santa Barbara National Forest. To the south, the transition into the San Fernando Valley is marked by the historical bounds of Ex Mission San Fernando, providing a detailed look at land division before suburban expansion. The heavy concentration of named canyons, such as San Francisquito and Soledad, highlights the rugged drainage network that dictated early transport routes through the Santa Susana Mountains.