1901 Map of San Jacinto

About this map

The San Jacinto Mountains dominate this turn-of-the-century survey, rising sharply between the desert floor and the burgeoning agricultural valleys of Riverside County. In the west, the San Jacinto Valley shows the early irrigation-driven layouts of Hemet and San Jacinto, connected by the Southern Pacific R. R. through the San Gorgonio Pass. The map documents a complex network of indigenous lands including the Morongo Indian Reservation and Agua Caliente Ind. Res., the latter surrounding the fledgling resort of Palm Springs. Local history enthusiasts can trace the early footprint of Hemet Reservoir and the numerous named flats and valleys, such as Strawberry Valley and Cactus Valley, that supported early mountain ranching and tourism before modern development reshaped the landscape.