1901 Map of Southern California Sheet No. 1

About this map

Los Angeles and its emerging suburbs sit at the center of a massive transit web at the end of the 19th century, before the era of major freeway construction. This survey captures the region's early reliance on rail, showing the intricate networks of the Southern Pacific RR and the Pacific Electric Ry connecting coastal towns like Santa Monica and Long Beach to the inland citrus hubs of Riverside and San Bernardino. Beyond the developing plains, the topography rises sharply into the San Gabriel Mountains and San Bernardino Mountains, where landmarks like Mount Wilson and Bear Lake dominate the skyline. The map also delineates several tribal lands, including the Coahuila Indian Reservation and Morongo Indian Reservation, providing a detailed look at land division and water resources like Elsinore Lake and the Santa Ana River during a period of rapid southern expansion.