Thomas Guide: Iconic SoCal map book is coming back

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- An iconic piece of Southern California driving history is back: a new Thomas Guide will be out next week.

For decades, the paper, ring-bound city map books were essential for drivers.

At a time when GPS and smartphone apps weren't the norm, motorists used the Thomas Guide to navigate the region's ever-expanding freeways and communities.

With today's technology, younger generations may not even know about the existence of the map books.

This is the first new Thomas Guide in three years.