1901 Map of Redlands

About this map

Redlands and its surrounding citrus-growing landscapes are captured at a pivotal moment of development, where the agricultural grid meets the steep slopes of the San Bernardino National Forest. This late 19th-century survey highlights an intricate water management system essential for the region's burgeoning orchards, including the Redlands Canal, the Zanja, and the Highlands Division ditch. Transportation networks are dominated by the Southern Pacific and the San Bernardino Valley railroads, which linked local hubs like Mentone and Crafton to broader markets. In the higher elevations, the map reveals a different economy of timber and early tourism, featuring remote outposts such as Guernseys Mill, Squirrel Inn, and Fredalba. This intersection of gravity-fed irrigation, mountain resource extraction, and rail-based commerce defines the era's footprint on the valley floor and the Crafton Hills.