1901 Map of Southern California Sheet No. 1

About this map

The sprawling Basin of Southern California is documented here just after the turn of the century, showing a landscape defined by its coastal settlements and the high peaks of the San Gabriel Mountains and San Bernardino Mountains. From the developed core of Los Angeles and Pasadena, the map traces the early expansion of the citrus belt through Pomona, Ontario, and Redlands. The complex hydrology of the region is evident in the courses of the Santa Ana River and San Gabriel River, while the high country features landmarks like Mt. San Antonio and San Gorgonio Mt.. To the south, the terrain descends through the Santa Ana Mountains into the Lake Elsinore basin. This era marks the height of the steam rail network, with the Southern Pacific R. R. and the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe R. R. anchoring the movement of people and agriculture between the inland valleys and the Pacific Ocean.