Map of Contra Costa & Alameda Counties Cal.

Cartographer(s): C.F. Weber & Co., Punnett Brothers
Date: 1913
Place: San Francisco
Dimensions: 76.5 x 62 cm (30 x 24.5 in)
Condition Rating: VG+

Out of stock

SKU: NL-01956 Category:

A fine 1913 Weber-Punnett map of the East Bay.

Details

This 1913 map of Contra Costa and Alameda Counties in California provides an intricate perspective of the region during the early 20th century. It is an excellent example, with bright outline coloring, blue-line lithography, and high-quality paper and covers.

Prominent towns and cities are clearly marked. In Alameda County, this includes town grids Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, Hayward, and the earlier communities that eventually became part of Fremont, including Niles, Centerville, and Irvington. Meanwhile, Contra Costa County showcases cities like Richmond, Concord, Martinez, Antioch, and Walnut Creek.

The transportation networks of the era are central to the map. Major roads, distinct from the modern interstate system, represent the primary routes of the time. Additionally, the significance of the rail system is undeniable, with railroads such as the Southern Pacific, Western Pacific, and Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe taking prominence. There’s also mention of the Key System, an electric commuter network integral to the East Bay.

Industrial sectors, like the bustling shipping docks of Richmond and Oakland, provide insights into the region’s economic activities. Other notable structures and areas, such as schools, courthouses, post offices, and agricultural zones like orchards, farms, and vineyards, especially in places like Livermore Valley, are depicted.

Overall, the map paints a vivid picture of early 20th century life in the East Bay.

Cartographer(s):

C.F. Weber & Co.

C.F. Weber & Co. was a publishing house based in California that specialized in maps.

Punnett Brothers

The Punnett Brothers were map publishers based in the San Francisco Bay Area during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Noted for their detailed depictions of the region, their maps, especially those concerning San Francisco and its environs, serve as pivotal resources for historians and urban researchers.

Many of the maps produced by the Punnett Brothers showcase intricate street layouts, building footprints, and land-use designations of the era. These illustrations provide invaluable insights into the urban development patterns and transformative shifts that occurred as San Francisco underwent rapid growth.

The maps curated by the Punnett Brothers stand as a testament to the changing landscape and infrastructural evolutions of the Bay Area during a time of great change. For scholars and enthusiasts of historical cartography focusing on the Bay Area, the Punnett Brothers’ collections remain an indispensable reference.

Condition Description

Very good. Some discoloration in title panel. Small areas of loss at fold intersections. Printed on thicker paper than usual for this type of map from the era. Hand colored county outlines.

References

Related products