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1952 Map of Topanga

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of Topanga
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

The Santa Monica Mountains dominate this mid-century survey, showcasing the sharp contrast between the dense development of Pacific Palisades and the winding canyon roads of the interior. The coastal edge is defined by a string of beaches, including Will Rogers State Beach and Topanga Beach, where the Pacific Coast Hwy hugs the shoreline below high bluffs. Inland, the community of Topanga and its nearby settlements like Fernwood and Sylvia Park are reached via the steep grade of Topanga Canyon Blvd.

Social and recreational hubs of the era are clearly marked, from the expansive Riviera Country Club and Will Rogers State Park to more specialized sites like Camp Josepho and the Conference Grounds near the coast. The map captures the suburban expansion into Santa Monica and the Riviera neighborhood just as the post-war building boom was transforming these canyons into residential enclaves. Local institutions such as Topanga School and Corpus Christi Sch provide specific points of interest for genealogists tracing the growth of these Westside communities.