1896 Map of Las Bolsas

About this map

Anaheim Landing serves as a focal point along the Orange County coastline in this late nineteenth-century survey, marking a period when coastal estuaries and marshlands dominated the landscape before modern development. The map details a complex network of wetlands and tidal inlets including La Bolsa Chica and the sprawling Los Alamitos area. Significant hydrological features like Anaheim Creek and Bolsas Creek meander through the terrain toward the Pacific Ocean, while the early introduction of a Drainage Ditch suggests the beginning of land reclamation efforts. Higher ground is noted at Landing Hill, providing a geographic anchor for the small coastal settlements of Bolsa Chica and Las Bolsas. This record is essential for understanding the natural geography of the Southern California coast before the extensive dredging and residential expansion of the twentieth century.