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1948 Map of Mesa Grande

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Mesa Grande
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

The settlement of Mesa Grande and the surrounding high country of San Diego County are documented here in detail, showcasing a landscape of tribal lands and early 20th-century mining. The map captures the interface between the Santa Ysabel Indian Reservation and the Mesa Grande Indian Res, where the Mesa Grande Sch served as a community focal point. Evidence of the region’s mineral wealth is scattered across the ridges, including the Himalaya Mine, San Diego Mine, and the Esmeralda Mine, along with the Shenandoah Mine (Aband).

Hydrological and topographic features define the area, from the waters of Lake Henshaw and the San Luis Rey River in the north to the secluded Pamo Valley in the southwest. Transport through this complex terrain was facilitated by the Mesa Grande Truck Trail and Black Canyon Road. The presence of the Almond Ranch and Valle De San Jose (Portilla) suggests the enduring importance of ranching and historical land grants in this part of the Cleveland National Forest.