1896 Map of Las Bolsas

About this map

Anaheim Landing serves as the primary coastal point of reference on this late 19th-century survey of the Orange County shoreline. The landscape is defined by the expansive wetlands and marshes of Bolsa Chica and the surrounding ranchos, including Los Alamitos, La Bolsa Chica, and Las Bolsas. These Spanish-named land grants reflect the transitional period of Southern California's development, where vast coastal plains were beginning to see the introduction of artificial waterways like the marked Ditch and Drainage systems. Waterways such as Anaheim Creek and Bolsas Creek meander through the low-lying terrain toward the Pacific Ocean, while Landing Hill provides a rare point of elevation along the coast. The map also captures the inland boundary between Los Angeles and Orange Counties during the first decade of Orange County's existence as a separate entity.