Politana, California, Riverside County is an intriguing ghost town that once thrived but now stands silent, echoing stories of its past. Below is detailed information about the town.
County: Riverside County
Zip Code: Not available
Latitude / Longitude: 33.9833° N, 117.3667° W
Elevation: Approximately 797 feet (243 meters)
Time Zone: Pacific Time Zone (PST/PDT)
Established: 1850s
Disestablished: Late 1860s
Comments: Politana was established as an early settlement in Southern California during the mid-19th century. It was initially a rancho site and eventually became part of the area known as La Placita de los Trujillos, one of the earliest non-native settlements in what is now Riverside County.
The settlement’s growth was spurred by its location on the supply route to the gold fields during the California Gold Rush. Politana, or Apolitana, was the first Spanish settlement in the San Bernardino Valley of California.
The Mission San Gabriel established it as a mission chapel and supply station in the rancheria of the Guachama Indians, who lived on the bluff that is now known as Bunker Hill, near Lytle Creek. In addition to the Guachama, it was also, at various times, the home for colonists from New Mexico and the Cahuilla people.
Today’s most prominent landmark is the St. Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church on Colton Avenue, just southwest of the Inland Center Mall, in San Bernardino, California Ghost Townlifornia.
Remains: Very few remnants can be observed today. The area where Politana once stood is largely unmarked, and no significant structures are left standing. However, those exploring the location might find some traces of foundations or artifacts.
In 1810, the Mission San Gabriel established a chapel dedicated to San Bernardino and a supply station for travelers coming across the desert from Yuma on the Sonora to Monterey road at the Guachama rancheria near the place now known as Bunker Hill, between Urbita Springs and present-day Colton.
The location was chosen for the abundant springs in the vicinity. When the adobe buildings have completed the padres and Tongva laborers returned to San Gabriel Mission, leaving the chapel, station, and a large quantity of supplies in the charge of Mission Indians soldiers, under command of the Indian chief Hipolito.
The Mission Indians rancheria (settlement) here took its name from him and became known as Politana. During the next two years, the missionary padres frequently visited the chapel, the Serrano Indians were friendly, and many converted to Christianity through Indian Reductions. Grain was planted, and the settlement seemed successful.
Current Status: Politana is a ghost town with little to no visible remnants. The area is largely integrated into the surrounding modern developments of Riverside County, making it challenging to distinguish from other parts of the region.
A few Indians remained at the rancheria of Politana when American colonization began. However, it was the burial place of the Christian Indians of San Bernardino Valley. This cemetery was a sacred spot, used by the Indians of the whole valley until the graves were leveled and the land was placed under cultivation.
As the country was settled, the Indians decreased in numbers and dispersed, especially during the smallpox epidemic of 1862-63. The few remaining habitations fell into decay and vanished. In the late 19th century, its cemetery became an orange grove, and now the site is an open lot west of the St. Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church on Colton Avenue, just southwest of the Inland Center Mall.
There is now no trace of the rancheria or cemetery, except for occasional finds of pieces of tile or pottery.
Remarks: Politana serves as a historical footnote in the larger narrative of California’s development. While it does not boast the preserved structures of some ghost towns, its significance lies in its contribution to the early settlement of Riverside County.
It stands as a tribute to the transient nature of many such settlements that dotted California during the era of rapid expansion and change.
