Loading map...

1925 Map of Whittier

Name: 1925 Topographic Map of Whittier
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1932
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1932

About this map

Puente Hills and the rugged Turnbull Canyon overlook a landscape in transition, where the agricultural foundations of Paso De Bartolo and Santa Gertrude meet the industrial surge of the 1920s. The discovery of oil is a defining element of this era, evidenced by the dense clusters of Oil Wells around Santa Fe Springs and Fulton Wells. These petroleum fields share the flats with institutional landmarks like the Whittier State School and the sprawling grounds of the Norwalk State Hospital.

A robust transportation network connects these hubs, with the Pacific Electric, Southern Pacific, and Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroads crisscrossing the valley. Local life is centered around rural schoolhouses such as Ranchito School and the East Whittier School, while the grid of Whittier climbs toward Workman Hill, reflecting the early urban growth of Los Angeles County before the full shift to suburban sprawl.