1896 Map of Las Bolsas

About this map

Anaheim Landing sits at the edge of the Pacific, marking a pivotal transition point between the coastal marshlands and the early agricultural developments of Orange County. This late-nineteenth-century landscape is defined by its massive ranchos and complex hydrology, where Anaheim Creek and Bolsas Creek weave through tidal flats. The interior reveals the transition from natural waterways to managed land, evidenced by a prominent Drainage Ditch that suggests the beginning of large-scale reclamation for farming. The map documents the vast land grants of Los Alamitos and Las Bolsas, showing the region before the arrival of modern residential density. Topographical features like Landing Hill provide the few points of elevation in an otherwise low-lying coastal plain, while the namesake settlement of Bolsa Chica occupies the interface between the marshes and the dry inland tracts.