1901 Map of Santa Ana

About this map

Santa Ana sits at the heart of a rapidly developing coastal plain in the decade following its incorporation as the county seat. The landscape is a mosaic of emerging settlements and agricultural tracts, connected by a network of rail lines including the Southern California R.R. (Surf Line) and the Southern Pacific R.R. (Newport Branch). To the west, the wetland environments of La Bolsa Chica and Las Bolsas contrast with the rising elevations of the San Joaquin Hills and Lomas de Santiago to the east. The Santa Ana River carves through the central valley, feeding into the expansive Newport Bay. Coastal life is evident in the burgeoning resorts at Newport Beach, Laguna, and Arch Beach, while inland hamlets like Tustin, Smeltzer, and Celery reflect the region's early citrus and lima bean industries.