1956 Map of Cabazon

About this map

The Morongo Indian Reservation and San Gorgonio Indian Reservation dominate this mid-century landscape where the desert floor meets the rising peaks of the San Bernardino National Forest. The Southern Pacific railroad and the San Gorgonio River serve as the primary corridors through the pass, anchoring the growth of Banning and the smaller settlement of Cabazon. Infrastructure for a growing Southern California is evident in the Colorado River Aqueduct and its associated Aqueduct Spillway, alongside the Banning Airport and the Millard Canyon Guard Station. Local life is detailed through neighborhood streets like Ramsey St and Nicolet St, while the educational and social core is marked by Banning High School. From the high elevations of Barton Peak to the agricultural and industrial traces at McMullen Flat and the local quarry, the map illustrates a pivotal mountain pass during a period of significant regional water and transit development.