1925 Map of Sawtelle

About this map

Soldiers Home and the adjacent settlement of Sawtelle anchor this mid-1920s survey, showing West Los Angeles during a period of rapid suburban and recreational expansion. The grid of Sawtelle is densely developed, flanked by the massive landholdings of the Los Angeles Country Club and the San Jose De Buenos Ayres rancho. Transportation is dominated by the Pacific Electric rail lines, which connect the coast at Santa Monica Bay to inland centers like Beverley Hills. The map captures an era of specialized land use, from the Aviation Field in the southern flats of La Ballona to the numerous hothouses dotting the landscape. In the north, the steep Santa Monica Mountains remain largely undeveloped, carved by canyons such as Sepulveda Canyon and Benedict Canyon, providing a sharp contrast to the burgeoning valley below.