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1939 Map of Santa Ysabel

Name: 1939 Topographic Map of Santa Ysabel
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1959
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1959

About this map

The Santa Ysabel Indian Reservation and Mesa Grande Indian Reservation anchor this 1939 survey, revealing a landscape defined by ranching, mining, and Indigenous heritage. In the northern reaches, Lake Henshaw dominates the valley below Valle de San Jose, while further south, the settlement of Julian serves as a hub for the surrounding mountains. Mining activity is concentrated along the steep eastern slopes, where the Banner Queen Mine and Golden Chariot Mine mark the mineral-rich veins of the Oriflamme and Chariot canyons.

Local landmarks such as the Santa Ysabel Chapel and Volcan Indian Sch provide specific points of interest for genealogists tracing family histories in the backcountry. The map also detail numerous named homesteads and ranches, including Warner Ranch and Tregnok Ranch, connected by primitive roads and early alignments of Route 78 and Route 79. The vast Cleveland National Forest and the edge of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park highlight the diverse terrain from high peaks like Volcan Mountain to the arid depths of Rodriguez Canyon.