1903 Map of Santa Susana

About this map

The Santa Susana Mountains dominate this 1900 survey, serving as a rugged divide between the Simi Valley and the northern reaches of the San Fernando Valley. At this turn-of-the-century moment, the landscape is defined by the early infrastructure of the Southern Pacific Railroad, including the critical Santa Susana Tunnel and the Fernando Tunnel, which allowed rail traffic to breach these formidable coastal ranges. To the north, the Pine Mountain and Zaca Lake Forest Reserve marks the protected wilderness, while the vast Ex Mission San Fernando lands reflect the region's transition from Spanish-era ranchos to modern development.