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1966 Map of Van Nuys

Name: 1966 Topographic Map of Van Nuys
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

The San Fernando Valley landscape is defined by the rapid suburbanization of mid-century Los Angeles, anchored by a dense network of residential streets and educational institutions. From the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains in the south, the terrain levels into a grid dominated by the Los Angeles River and its managed tributaries, including the Tujunga Wash and Pacoima Wash. This period shows the valley as a major aeronautical and institutional hub, featuring the expansive Van Nuys Airport and the sprawling Sepulveda Dam Recreational Area.

Genealogists and local historians can trace the development of distinct neighborhoods like Panorama City, Sherman Oaks, and Pacoima. The map records an incredible density of local schools and religious centers, such as St. Genevieve High School and the Northridge Military Academy, alongside critical infrastructure like the Southern Pacific railroad lines and the newly established freeway systems including the Hollywood Freeway and San Diego Freeway.