1942 Map of Ontario and Vicinity

About this map

The San Gabriel Mountains loom over a landscape of burgeoning orchards and transit lines during the early 1940s. Centered on the growing citrus hubs of Ontario and Upland, the map reveals a meticulously gridded agricultural and residential corridor transitioning into the Puente Hills. Significant infrastructure defines the era, with the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe and Southern Pacific railroads cutting through the valley, facilitating the region's famed fruit industry. Local life is anchored by landmarks like College Hill, the Sierra Vista Sch, and the Bellevue Cem. Smaller rail-side settlements such as Narod and Sunsweet underscore the local economy's dependence on the tracks. From the higher elevations of San Antonio Heights down to Chino, the map documents the early suburban and industrial footprint of the Inland Empire before mid-century expansion fundamentally altered the valley floor.