1953 Map of San Jacinto

About this map

San Jacinto and Hemet anchor this mid-century portrait of the San Jacinto Valley, where the grid of city streets meets the rising slopes of the San Jacinto Mountains. The era's complex water management infrastructure is prominent, featuring the Colorado River Aqueduct skirting the base of the mountains and the San Jacinto Reservoir to the west. Local industry and transit are defined by the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad line terminate near the heart of town, while the surrounding landscape is marked by natural thermal features like Soboba Hot Springs and Gilman Hot Springs. To the east, the Soboba Indian Reservation occupies the rugged foothills, split by the winding course of the San Jacinto River. Rural education and community life are reflected in the presence of the Union High Sch and several cemeteries, providing a detailed record of the area's development before late-20th-century expansion.