1937 Map of Violin Canyon

About this map

Cordova Ranch and Davies Ranch sit within a landscape of deeply etched drainages and sharp ridges in the northern reaches of Los Angeles County. During the late 1930s, this area of the Angeles National Forest served as a vital corridor for both transportation and utilities. The map shows Route No 99 and Transmission Lines cutting through Violin Canyon and Marple Canyon, following the natural contours of the terrain toward the Castaic Valley. An Airway Beacon positioned near the First Standard Parallel North highlights the era's growing dependence on aerial navigation markers. The convergence of Castaic Creek and Elizabeth Lake Canyon reveals a complex network of seasonal watercourses, where small settlements like Martins managed to take root along the primary travel routes between the central valley and the Los Angeles basin.