Santa Ana River Valley

The Santa Ana River Valley has a long and diverse historical story to tell. A valley that has been transformed from its natural state to one of flood control channels and enormous industrial development, its change mirrors the growth of southern California communities that sprang up along its storied bank. San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, and Orange Counties stretch along this mighty river, where today it looks in many places as if a waterway never even existed. The vast changes over time are one remarkable story of nature, human endeavor and variety, and the uneasy alliance and coexistence that exists between nature and humankind.

The settlement patterns of southern California greatly impacted its natural topography, flora, fauna, and waterways. The mighty Santa Ana River stretches more than 90 miles from its headwaters in the San Bernardino Mountains to the sea at Newport Beach. When the river valley was in its natural state, valley flora consisted of coastal sage, some shrubs, and some grasses. Animal life included trout, birds, snakes, and insects which in turn fed deer, rabbits, and bears. When native tribes lived along the riverbank, this life-giving yet capricious provider nurtured their hunting and gathering societies. The Serrano, Cahuilla, Tong-Va (also known as the Gabrielino), and Luiseno tribes would escape the wrath of the river during flood season by seeking higher ground, and in the heat of summer they would lounge in its waters. Plants and animals too would flock to the water thus allowing a complete community to thrive. This way of life flourished until new human inhabitants entered the valley.

When Spanish explorers journeyed to this part of the world they were greeted by tribal villagers and a vast river. In 1769 Gaspar de Portola camped along its banks and experienced several earthquakes. He and his traveling party of priests and soldiers were duly awed by the shaking and named the river Santa Ana of the Earthquakes. The Anza party followed in 1774, crossing the river en route to the San Gabriel Mission. The Spanish discovery of the valley brought changes to the Natives, first as their villages and nomadic traveling patterns were interrupted and the mission system placed upon them, and then as soldiers loyal to the Spanish Crown began to acquire land along the river as rewards for service. The 21 missions established by Spain served as self-sustaining cities, links along the rugged frontier, and places to convert native tribes to Christianity. Although the Santa Ana River Valley did not have a mission located directly in it, it was influenced by Missions San Gabriel, San Juan Capistrano, and San Luis Rey.

As the 1800s dawned, a few ranchos dotted the river valley, and cattle were introduced to graze upon the semiarid hills. Fertile stretches existed along the river but there were also large swatches of desert, rolling hills, and inhospitable tracts of land that the people had to contend with. This truly was a frontier post for the Spanish settlers. The romantic names of these ranchos still exist today in names of streets, shopping malls, neighborhood developments, and in cities. They harken back to the long-ago past of the valley and remind current residents that life in the long valley was different just a few centuries ago.

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