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1925 Map of Whittier

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

USGS Topo · Published 1925

About this map

The San Gabriel River flows through a landscape defined by rapid industrialization and agricultural roots in the mid-1920s. A dense cluster of Oil Wells dominates the area around Santa Fe Springs, illustrating the region's petroleum boom that transformed the former Rancho Santa Gertrudes. This economic activity is supported by a sophisticated network of transportation, including the Pacific Electric and Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroads, which linked these inland settlements to the growing Los Angeles metropolitan core.

Institutional landmarks are prominent throughout the quadrangle, notably the Norwalk State Hospital and the Whittier State School. Educational and community life is visible in the numerous neighborhood institutions such as Ranchito School, Pico School, and the Olive Grove Cemetery. The contrast between the grid layout of Whittier and the winding paths of Turnbull Canyon in the Puente Hills highlights the transition from the alluvial plain to the rising terrain of the eastern county line.