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This is a large composite of eight topographical maps, assembled to cover the area surrounding the 101 Freeway, stretching from Oxnard to Glendale. Published by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) between 1966 and 1967, this compilation offers a detailed depiction of a region on the precipice of significant suburban expansion.
The 1960s marked a period of substantial suburban growth in California, spurred by a post-war economic boom, population increase, and the advent of the automobile culture. The creation of these maps coincides with this crucial period, documenting the region prior to much of its transformative suburban expansion. The geographic area in focus, surrounding the 101 Freeway, became a pivotal artery of connectivity, instrumental in the spatial and demographic evolution of Southern California.
The composite map reveals the topography of the region with a striking level of detail, likely reflecting the precision of the USGS mapping methodology. The original sheets, drafted in the 1940s and 1950s, were updated in 1966 and 1967, evidencing the ongoing process of urbanization and the changes in the natural and built environments over time.
The composite of eight topographical maps covering the area from Oxnard to Glendale thus offers an invaluable resource for understanding the pre-suburban landscape of this section of Southern California. As a visual narrative of change and development, it simultaneously captures a historic snapshot of the region's morphology and anticipates its imminent transformation due to suburban expansion.
