The Redlands Area Historical Society, Inc.
September 2026 Program
“Redlands, Frank Brown and the Formation of Riverside County in 1893”
Presented by Steve Lech
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
7:00 p.m.
Contemporary Club
173 S. Eureka Street
Did you know Riverside and Redlands were once in the same county? Did you know there was a point when Riverside courted Redlands to break away?
In 1893, Riverside County separated from San Bernardino County – but the story is far more complicated than a dispute over a courthouse. Behind the creation of the new county were competing communities, political maneuvering, ambitious local leaders and even an effort to create a separate Brown County, with Redlands as its county seat.
Historian Steve Lech takes us inside the negotiations and back-room dealings that reshaped the political map of Southern California and reveals the surprising role Redlands played in the process.
The story offers a fresh perspective on Redlands founder Frank Brown, whose influence extended well beyond the city he helped establish. From water development and town-building to his work in what became Riverside County – including the origins of the name Moreno Valley – Brown emerges as a regional figure whose ambitions reached across county lines. As the Redlands Area Historical Society opens a new season, join us in person or on Zoom to discover a little-known chapter of Redlands history and see one of the city’s best-known founders from an entirely new angle.
Steve Lech is a native Riversider who has been interested in the local history of Riverside County for more than 40 years. He has written or co-written 18 books and more than 350 articles on various subjects of Riverside County history, is the former chair of the Riverside County Historical Commission and co-authors the weekly “Back in the Day” column for the Press-Enterprise newspaper.
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84064256081#success
The program is free and open to the public and will begin at 7:00 p.m.
