Loading map...

1965 Map of Whittier

Name: 1965 Topographic Map of Whittier
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1984
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1984

About this map

Whittier and the surrounding Los Angeles Basin communities are shown here in a period of intense post-war expansion. The map details a complex landscape where traditional institutions like Whittier College and the Metropolitan State Hospital stand alongside the rapidly developing residential grids of Pico Rivera, Norwalk, and La Mirada. This 1965 survey, updated with 1981 purple-tinted revisions, reveals the corridor's evolution from an agricultural and oil-producing region to a densely built suburban environment.

Industry and transport infrastructure anchor the area, with the San Gabriel River and Rio Hondo flanked by a dense network of railroads, including the Southern Pacific and Union Pacific. Cultural and educational landmarks are prominent, from Rose Hills Memorial Park in the hills near Workman Hill to various parochial schools like St John Bosco High Sch. The presence of a Percolation Basin and numerous gaging stations reflects the critical water management required to support this burgeoning California population.