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1956 Map of San Bernardino

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of San Bernardino
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1956
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1956

About this map

San Bernardino and the sprawling developments of the Inland Empire appear at a mid-century crossroads, where the agricultural legacy of the Santa Ana River valley meets the rapid expansion of the Cold War era. The map details a dense corridor of settlements stretching from Pomona and Ontario to Redlands, served by a complex network of railroads including the Southern Pacific and the electric lines of the Pacific Electric.

Beyond the San Bernardino Mountains and their recreational hubs at Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear Lake, the landscape shifts to the high desert. Here, the military presence is dominant with Edwards Air Force Base and George AFB situated near growing desert communities like Victorville and Apple Valley. This survey captures the transition from the traditional mining economy, represented by the Camp Rock Mine, to the modern aerospace and suburban growth that redefined Southern California in the 1950s.