Published in 1963 from 1954 survey work, the US Geological Survey’s “Redlands” presents a precise mid-century portrait of one of Southern California’s most storied inland communities. At 1:24,000 scale, it captures Redlands at a revealing moment: still deeply shaped by citrus agriculture, irrigation, rail connections, and open land, yet already tied into the expanding metropolitan fabric of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. The city’s gridded streets, institutional landmarks, and surrounding groves appear within a landscape that had long been celebrated for its Victorian architecture, winter climate, and orange-growing wealth. This is a map of transition, showing a cultivated town before later waves of suburban growth dramatically altered the Inland Empire.

The map bears the disciplined clarity associated with the US Geological Survey, whose topographic sheets became indispensable tools for engineers, planners, hikers, scientists, and local governments. The cartography is both practical and elegant: urbanized areas are emphasized in red, vegetation and land cover in greens, and relief through finely drawn brown contour lines. Gridlines provide a systematic framework for locating roads, property divisions, and natural features, while the 1:24,000 scale allows individual neighborhoods, rail corridors, orchards, and canyon roads to be read with unusual intimacy. It is a technical document, but also a remarkably legible landscape portrait, translating the complex meeting of town, agriculture, and mountain front into a coherent visual language.

Redlands itself occupies the heart of the map, a community whose prosperity was long bound to the citrus industry and the wider mythology of Southern California abundance. Orange groves and agricultural fields surrounding the town evoke the era when packing houses, irrigation networks, and rail shipment made the Redlands district nationally significant. Nearby Loma Linda, Crafton, Highland, and the outskirts of San Bernardino reveal a constellation of settlements linked by roads, railways, and shared access to water and fertile valley land. Historic buildings and older civic patterns are embedded in the street plan, offering a cartographic glimpse of the region before freeways, subdivisions, and commercial expansion recast much of its character.

The topographic drama of the sheet lies in the contrast between cultivated lowlands and rising terrain. Contour lines trace the folds and slopes that frame the Redlands area, showing valleys, benches, washes, and the beginnings of the mountainous country associated with the San Bernardino range. San Timoteo Canyon appears as an especially important corridor, both a natural passage and a historic route through the landscape. The Santa Ana River system and related drainage features hint at the forces that shaped settlement: water, alluvial soils, flood risk, and access through canyon and valley. Portions of the San Bernardino National Forest further emphasize the proximity of wild uplands to an intensely managed agricultural and urban edge.

Transportation is another defining theme of the map. Roads including the corridors associated with US Route 99 and Interstate 10 mark Redlands’ integration into regional and national movement, while railways recall the older infrastructure that helped citrus towns flourish. These lines of travel stitch together Redlands, Loma Linda, Highland, San Bernardino, Riverside, and surrounding communities, revealing the Inland Empire not as isolated towns, but as an evolving network of commerce, commuting, agriculture, and recreation. Parks, open spaces, and canyon approaches point toward the recreational appeal of the area, while the dense notation of streets and utilities signals an accelerating modernity. The result is a richly informative snapshot of Southern California on the cusp of transformation.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Redlands
• San Bernardino
• Riverside
• Loma Linda
• Highland
• Crafton
• Santa Ana River
• Santa Rosa Plateau
• Mount Wrightson
• San Timoteo Canyon
• Portions of the San Bernardino National Forest
• Interstate 10
• US Route 99
• Several railways
• Multiple parks and recreational areas
• Historic buildings in Redlands
• Orange groves
• Agricultural fields

Historical context & cartographic details

• Produced by the US Geological Survey, this historical 1:24,000 topographical map shows Redlands, California, and the surrounding area.
• Dated 1954, with a 1963 imprint.
• Published by the US Geological Survey, known for producing high-quality topographic maps for land-use planning, environmental management, outdoor recreation, and scientific research.
• Redlands is known for its historic Victorian homes and citrus industry, both significant in California’s economic history.
• Urban areas are highlighted in red, while topographical features are shown in varying shades of green and brown.
• Gridlines help identify sections of the map.
• Contour lines clearly mark elevation changes, showing surrounding mountainous terrain, valleys, and flatlands.
• The map captures mid-20th century California before later urban development and population growth significantly transformed the area.

Looking for a particular place? Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, ask our workshop to check before you order.

Detailed maps are especially rewarding at larger sizes, where names, boundaries and decorative features have more room to be appreciated. Use the close-up preview and size guide to choose the right scale for your wall.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.

Where personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. See personalised map examples.

Every piece is printed to museum-grade archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte paper. Choose an unframed map print, framed map or canvas using the finish options above. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.

With its rich detail and strong sense of place, this map makes a considered gift for a new home, anniversary, retirement or anyone with a personal connection to the area shown. Still deciding? Explore our collection of rare old and vintage maps to discover another place, period or style.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.