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1942 Map of Riverside

Name: 1942 Topographic Map of Riverside
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1959
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1959

About this map

The Santa Ana River snakes past West Riverside in a landscape defined by intensive irrigation and military expansion during the early 1940s. The map captures a critical transition for the region, showing the Sherman Institute and La Sierra College alongside a dense grid of orange groves and water infrastructure like Arlington Water Plant No 2. Further south, the massive footprint of Camp Haan and the expansive Lake Mathews reservoir illustrate the region's role in supporting wartime personnel and the burgeoning water needs of Southern California.

Beyond the suburban reaches of Arlington and Casa Blanca, the terrain shifts toward ranching and mining operations in the hills. Genealogists and local historians can locate several family-held properties such as the Wagonwheel Ranch, Lawless Ranch, and Morris Washington Ranch. Industrial history is anchored by the Cajalco Tin Mine and the Gavilan Mine, while the southern edge features the Glen Ivy Hot Springs resort area.