1901 Map of Anaheim

About this map

Anaheim and the surrounding citrus-growing heart of Orange County are captured here at the dawn of the twentieth century, just years after the county's formal separation from Los Angeles. This 1901 edition, with culture revised by E.G. Hamilton, reveals a landscape defined by an intricate network of irrigation and rail. The Santa Ana River serves as the primary artery for the region, feeding the Santa Ana and Orange Canal to support the expanding orchards. The map highlights the early development of towns like Fullerton, Orange, and Placentia along the lines of the Southern California and Southern Pacific railroads. From the hills of Rincon de la Brea to the flatlands of Las Bolsas, the sheet documents the transition from large ranchos to subdivided agricultural lots and small town centers like Garden Grove and El Modena.