1953 Map of Santa Teresa Hills

About this map

The New Almaden Mine complex anchors the southern portion of this landscape, reflecting a deep industrial heritage centered around Mine Hill. While the northern reaches show the expanding suburban footprint of San Jose and the Southern Pacific rail line, the southern hills preserve traces of a distinct mining culture. This is evident in the identified sites of English Town (Site) and Mexican Camp (Site), alongside the Old Mexican Cemetery, Hidalgo Cemetery, and Hastings Cemetery. The map captures a transition between the dense residential grid emerging along Blossom Hill Road and the earlier agricultural and mineral economies represented by the Peckham Ranch, Stile Ranch, and Gilman Ranch. Water resources like the Calero Reservoir and Almaden Reservoir are prominent, while the Santa Teresa Hills form a natural barrier between the urbanized valley floor and the historic quicksilver mining district.