Loading map...

1925 Map of Sawtelle

Name: 1925 Topographic Map of Sawtelle
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1931
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1931

About this map

The sprawling canyons and emerging subdivisions of West Los Angeles dominate this mid-1920s survey, illustrating a landscape in rapid transition from Mexican land grant ranchos to modern urban corridors. The massive grounds of the Soldiers Home and the adjacent town of Sawtelle anchor the central valley, surrounded by the historical remnants of San Jose de Buenos Ayres and Rodeo de Las Aguas. To the south, the early footprint of aviation history is marked at the Aviation Field near La Ballona, while the grid of Santa Monica meets the shore at the Municipal Pier.

Transportation networks define the region's growth, with the Pacific Electric railway lines cutting through the valley to reach Home Junction and Beverly Hills. The map captures the early luxury developments of Brentwood Park and the specialized agriculture indicated by clusters of Hothouses. From the peaks of the Santa Monica Mountains down to Santa Monica Bay, this study provides an essential record of the pre-war development pattern of the Los Angeles basin.