Anza Fire Protection

Anza is the northernmost community in Riverside County, California, United States. It is located 6.5 northwest of La Quinta. The population was 17,963 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Palm Springs, California Metropolitan Statistical Area.

It is an area of the Santa Ana Mountains in Southern California. It’s located between Idyllwild and Temecula if you take state route 371 south about 20 miles. It’s at the same elevation as Idyllwild, but much colder due to it being higher up into the mountains – meaning that you can still see snow on the ground here well into springtime – April even! Of course, the climate could be worse if it were closer to San Diego where they often have their weather set to ‘tropical’ I hear! One thing Anza has going for it to make up for its lack of direct ocean access are two beautiful lakes, Elizabeth Lake and Skinner Lake. These are popular water activities areas for people around the area to enjoy during any season which brings more money to this area too!

Geography and Terrain of Anza

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city covers an area of 23.3 square miles (60.8 km2) and 0.1 square miles is water; regional geographic subdivisions of the city include Modjeska Canyon and Silverado (North); Holy Jim, Trabuco Canyon, and El Cariso (South); Queen Valley and McVicker’s Junction (East) as well as Headstand Peak and Cow Camp (West).

Within this area encroaching on the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, people have always found ways to coexist with an arid environment which most cities simply cannot tolerate. A few years ago a developer decided to locate a housing project named after the county it’s in (San Diego), on the outskirts of one of California’s oldest modern settlements (Vista). People can enjoy its small but nice park and stay at any of the motels or hotels located along Highway 75.

The elevation of the city of Anza is approximately 3,000 feet. This is a high desert, and snow can occur in some areas surrounding the city, such as the Santa Ana Mountains. The temperature in Anza is characterized as mild year-round. The city rests in a valley surrounded by small mountains. The weather during fall and winter is cool, dry, and sunny. In the summer, it can get very hot and dry. The city rests on a large lake and is a popular place for hiking and camping. There are a lot of attractions for tourists to explore including caves and a desert garden. The landscape is filled with cacti and rocks. The weather is hot and dry with mild winters.

Economic Development in Anza

The railroad brought new developments and wealth to the city of Anza, California after the completion of the Anza Tunnel in 1883. Construction on the tunnel began in 1879 and took five years to complete. It was at 8,500 feet long, a third of a mile, and a mere 24 feet in height and 10 feet wide. It passed through a fault zone and posed a significant challenge to workers. The engineer of the tunnel, Samuel Lancaster, was a genius, as the completed tunnel took a mere five years to build. Had it been a different engineer, it might have taken an extra ten years to complete, like tunnels through fault lines frequently collapse. This tunnel is still in use today, as it is a vital link in the San Diego/Los Angeles commuter rail network, as well as a tourist attraction.

The construction of the tunnel was a feat of engineering, as it cut through the San Gabriel Mountains as well as the San Andreas Fault. This allowed the railroad to navigate around the dreaded Tehachapi Mountains, meaning less time and cost for shipping and transportation. Their main commerce was shipping and selling lumber, but over time it transformed into a shipping hub for agricultural goods and a regional shipping center for San Francisco and Los Angeles. The population soon grew and expanded, and the city grew.