1901 Map of Redlands

About this map

Redlands serves as the focal point of this late-Victorian era survey, showing the city's early development alongside the complex irrigation systems essential for its famous citrus groves. The map reveals a sophisticated network of water infrastructure, including the Santa Ana Canal, Redlands Canal, and the Mill Creek Zanja, which diverted water from the Santa Ana Wash to the burgeoning settlements. To the north, the San Bernardino Forest Reserve encompasses a high-altitude landscape of peaks and early resorts like Squirrel Inn and Strawberry Flat. This era was defined by the intersection of mountain timber and lowland agriculture, connected by gravity-defying flumes and ditches. Rail transit was equally vital, with the Southern California and San Bernardino Motor Line providing critical links between the valley and the Redlands Junction, while the Highlands Division served the northern foothills.