Tulare County California. 1907 by H. Levinson, Visalia, Cal. Copyright 1907 - c. 1907: Compiled and Drawn by Edw. A. Combes

dimensions: 24 3/4" x 19"

condition: professionally conserved and backed on Japanese tissue, original color, paper loss at original folds, some paper loss around perimeter of map sheet

Tulare County, California is sparsely developed as shown on this scarce 1907 map of Tulare County California. drawn and compiled by Edw. A. Combes. This map includes Sequoia National Park, established in 1890 and the Tule River Indian Reserve as lands set apart and separately owned. Sequoia National Park was established under the administration of President Benjamin Harrison as the second American national Park. The National Park Service explains in its history of Sequoia National Park that it was specifically established to protect California's giant sequoia trees from industrial logging. The National Park Service had not yet been established and therefore federal protection of the territory and trees within Sequoia National Park was assigned to the U.S. Army Cavalry who were sent from San Francisco to the park from 1891 to 1913. The larger territory outside of the national park boundary is labeled "Sierra Forest Reserve". Therefore, this scarce map shows Tulare County and its unspoiled forest lands before development pressures arose from the large scale construction of roads for passenger vehicles.

The Tule River Indian Tribe of California is a federally recognized sovereign nation. The Tule River Tribe web site is an initial source of history and current status of negotiations by the Tule River Tribe to establish their legal rights to water rights in the Tule River. The Tule River Indian Reservation was established by U.S. Executive Order in 1873. The land area is 55,356 acres. One can see from the graphic representation of the Tule River Indian Reserve that the land area is a fraction of the area dedicated by U.S. Executive Order to the Sequoia National Park, and an even smaller fraction of the total land area of Tulare County. This land is shown on the 1907 map closer to its mid-19th c. state when the territory was originally watered by rivers, streams and the Tulare Lake that is not recognizable today. Subsequent dams and water diversion have reduced Tulare Lake from its original vast size exceeding the surface area of Lake Tahoe. Water rights are therefore a current issue in the wake of historic water loss and destruction of wetlands species. Please see research and comment provided in The Tribune by David Middlecamp in March, 2017.

The Tulare County Map "Reference" key shows symbols for railroads, roads, schools and five numbered supervisor districts. Trails, ditches and Irrigation Districts are also indicated on this map. Within Tulare County, districts are outlined in contrasting colors. The grid system overlaid the entire county indicates the numbered land lot system of the Public Land Survey System. Several railroads run through Tulare County. A Military Reserve is situated on the north eastern county border. Mountain heights are indicated. Abutting counties are also named. The map is framed in a simple but decorative frame.