Welcome to Grand Terrace ~ The Blue Mountain City
Posted by: 
brwhiz
N 34° 02.029 W 117° 19.680
11S E 469721 N 3765954
Grand Terrace gets its nickname from Blue Mountain, a peak in one of the two mountain ranges that bracket the city.
Waymark Code: WMJ665
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 09/30/2013
Views: 1
From the City web site:
Grand Terrace's roots go back to Mexican land grants dating from the period between 1830 and 1840. According to the Riverside Press, in 1876 there were nine buildings in the Terrace-Colton area.
The development of Grand Terrace, or East Riverside as the Grand Terrace - Highgrove area was then called, became a reality with the construction of the Gage Canal in 1896. This 22-1/2 mile canal, built at a cost of 2 million dollars, brought water from the Santa Ana River marshlands below The Terrace. With plenty of irrigation water, Grand Terrace rapidly became an agricultural community featuring fine, quality citrus. However, the severe "freeze" of 1913 destroyed many groves. Walnuts, a hardier tree, were planted as replacements along with peaches as a quick-profit crop.
The social activities in the early 1900's centered around the Farm Bureau Extension Service and the Women's Club established in 1908, followed by the P.T.A. in the 1930's. Since there were no local churches, people traveled to surrounding communities for worship and other church activities.
Grand Terrace was originally called "The Terrace" because of its higher ground. Later, the name "Grand" was added referring to the area's lovely view. The area’s first settlers were Dr. Benjamin Barton (hence Barton Road) and Dr. W.R. Fox. By the time the Riverside-Highland Water Company was formed in 1898, this community was known as Grand Terrace.