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1949 Map of Mesa Grande

Name: 1949 Topographic Map of Mesa Grande
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1949
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1949

About this map

Mesa Grande and its surrounding highlands represent a landscape defined by gem mining and tribal lands within the Cleveland National Forest. In the late 1940s, this area of San Diego County was a hub for lithia and gemstone extraction, evidenced by the cluster of workings at Gem Hill including the Himalaya Mine, San Diego Mine, and Esmeralda Mine. To the east, the Mesa Grande Indian Reservation sits atop the plateau, anchored by the Mesa Grande School.

Water management and ranching operations are central to the valley floors, where the San Luis Rey River feeds into Lake Henshaw near the Valle De San Jose (Portilla). The map details a network of vital service routes like the Mesa Grande Truck Trail and Lusardi Truck Trail that connect remote locations such as Almond Ranch and the Black Mtn Lookout. This era shows the transition of the region into a mix of recreation at the Lake Henshaw Rec Area and sustained agricultural use in Pamo Valley.