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1951 Map of Whittier

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Whittier
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1951
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1951

About this map

Pio Pico Mansion State Historical Monument stands as a primary cultural anchor in this mid-century landscape, situated where the Rio Hondo and San Gabriel River systems define the western valley. This post-war era shows the transition of the Paso De Bartolo and Santa Gertrudes ranchos into a dense network of suburban tracts and industrial corridors. The economy is heavily influenced by the petroleum industry, evidenced by the numerous oil sumps and refineries surrounding Santa Fe Springs.

Institutional growth is a defining characteristic here, with the sprawling grounds of Whittier College, the Norwalk State Hospital, and specialized academies like the Nelles Sch for Boys and Parnell Girls School. Major transport arteries including Whittier Blvd and the Pacific Electric railroad connect the established centers of Whittier and Norwalk, while smaller aviation hubs like Delpert Airport serve the local community before the eventual suburban saturation.