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1903 Map of Ramona

Name: 1903 Topographic Map of Ramona
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1948
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1948

About this map

Cleveland National Forest dominates much of this early 20th-century Southern California landscape, which is defined by a dense network of mountains and valleys including Agua Tibia Mountain and San Jose Del Valle. The map document captures a transitional era for San Diego County, where early settlements like Ramona, Julian, and Santa Ysabel were established nodes of activity in an otherwise complex terrain. High-elevation communities such as Nellie on Palomar Mt and Mesa Grande on the Santa Ysabel Indian Reservation reflect the high-country settlement patterns of the day.

A significant portion of the land is dedicated to several tribal territories, including the Pauma Indian Res, La Jolla Indian Reservation, and Los Coyotes Indian Res. Water sources like Dripping Spring, Sawyer Spring, and the headwaters of the San Luis Rey River are meticulously noted, highlighting the essential nature of water rights in this arid environment. The presence of cattle ranching and early travel is evident in names like Oakgrove Valley and the Boundary Line, which separates the jurisdictions of Riverside and San Diego counties.