1953 Map of Steele Peak

About this map

Gavilan Mine, Ida-Leona Mine, and the Santa Rosa Mine anchor a landscape defined by early Riverside County resource extraction and agricultural development in the early 1950s. The northern edge of the map is dominated by the industrial-scale infrastructure of the March Air Force Base and the critical Colorado River Aqueduct, which cuts across the terrain near Val Verde. This period captures a shift from mining toward ranching and poultry farming, as evidenced by several named properties such as Rancho El Nido, Rancho Loma de Oro, and the Poultry Ranch. The Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad corridor facilitates movement through the valley, connecting small communities like Glen Valley with rural landmarks such as Bethel Church and the Hartford Springs area.