Agua Mansa, California, San Bernardino County was once a thriving settlement, known as one of the first non-native communities in California’s inland region. Its bustling history and eventual decline into a ghost town make it a fascinating subject of study. Below is detailed information about the town.
County: San Bernardino County
Zip Code: Not available
Latitude / Longitude: 34.0542° N, 117.3425° W
Elevation: Approximately 922 ft (281 m)
Time Zone: Pacific Time Zone (PT)
Established: 1842
Disestablished: 1893
Comments: Agua Mansa, meaning “Gentle Water,” was established by Mexican settlers and became a significant site along the Santa Ana River. It was initially founded by Lorenzo Trujillo and several families who the Mexican government granted land. The community prospered with agriculture as its economic backbone.
Remains: Today, very little remains of Agua Mansa. The most notable remnant is the Agua Mansa Pioneer Cemetery, which serves as a historical site commemorating the area’s early settlers. The Riverside County Parks Department manages the cemetery and is open to the public.
The town was established in 1845 in Mexican Alta California. It was on the Santa Ana River, across from the Mexican-era settlement of La Placita. Agua Mansa and La Placita were the first non-native settlements in the San Bernardino Valley. Together known as “San Salvador”, they were also the largest settlements between Santa Fe de Nuevo México and the Pueblo de Los Ángeles in the 1840s.
Current Status: The area is considered a ghost town with minimal physical evidence of its former existence, primarily recognized through historical markers and the cemetery.
Remarks: Agua Mansa’s decline began with a devastating flood in 1862, which destroyed much of the town. Over time, residents relocated, and the town was eventually abandoned. Though not much remains, Agua Mansa’s legacy as one of the earliest non-native settlements in California continues to be remembered through historical preservation efforts. Its story is a tribute to the pioneering spirit and challenges faced by early settlers in the American West.
In 1845, Don Juan Bandini donated parts of his land grant Rancho Jurupa to a group of Mexican colonists from Abiquiú in Santa Fe de Nuevo México — on the condition that they would assist in protecting his stock from local Indian raids.
Ten of these families moved to 2,000 acres (810 ha) on the “Bandini Donation” on the east side of the Santa Ana River, forming the village of La Placita, while a second group colonized the west side of the river, forming the town of Agua Mansa. The group that formed Agua Mansa was led by Don Jose Tomas Salajar, and included Cristobal Slover and Louis Rubidoux.
