1955 Map of Whitewater

About this map

The San Gorgonio Pass serves as a critical desert corridor on this mid-century survey, dominated by the vital infrastructure of the Colorado River Aqueduct and the Southern Pacific railroad. The landscape is a study in transition, where the arid canyon floors meet the rising slopes of the San Bernardino Mountains. Small settlements and outposts like Bonnie Bell, Fingal, and the White Water PO line the transportation routes, reflecting the localized development of the era. Significant portions of the land are dedicated to the Mission Creek Indian Reservation and the Morongo Indian Reservation, highlighting the area's complex jurisdictional history. From the commercial Whitewater Trout Farm to industrial sites like the Painted Hill Quarry, the map captures the diverse human activity established near the Whitewater River before the heavy expansion of the Coachella Valley.