The area is everything south of the railroad tracks from the airport west to highland Springs Road. South Banning is a mostly rural area consisting of horse ranches and farms, mixed in with some low and middle income older homes. There has been some tract homes built along with a new baseball park. To the East is the airport (currently closed)and commercial businesses. The new Banning Hgh School is loacated of of San Gorgonio. The west end has Spring Valley Retirement Community and The Magor Shopping Stores
You can still take the Old Idyllwild Road up to Poppet Flats but it is still all dirt and bumpy. KOA Campground is still at the fork to highway 243.
Historical Note
La Chancla (the "Shoe") El Sapo (the
"Frog") and El Lagartijo (the "Lizard") were all historic barrios in Banning with roots established
as early as the 1880s. The Southern Pacific Railroad was constructed through Banning in 1875
and 1876 and much of the workforce on the railroad were men of Mexican descent. Some of
the areas of Chancla and Sapo were used for housing for the railroad workers and commercial ventures developed along Livingston Street in response to the new community. El Sapo (the
"Frog") got its name from the frogs that chirped at night while congregating at the water sheds used to irrigate the orchards.
South Banning neighborhoods are mostly rural ranches mixed in small older communities. There has been some development over the years, mainly Sun Lakes and Serrano Del Vista, two 55 + gated communities and some tract homes with a baseball park
A major portion of the west end to Highland Springs Rd. is Spring Valley . The over 55 retirement community offers a lot of activitys and programs for seniors.
Historical Note
One interesting aspect of the Hmong immigration to the San Gorgonio Pass is that some of the
first Hmong arrivals in the early 1980s were allowed to live on the Morongo Reservation. An
individual who owned approximately 20 acres of land on the reservation made arrangements
for some Hmong families to build or rent on the land. The first area in Banning to be densely populated by Hmong was between
Barbour and Westward off of Eighth Street.
Community
Westbound Train
Railroad Crossing San Gorgonio Ave
Lyons Recreational Park
Dysart Equestrian Park Rodeo
Banning High School
BHS Activity Fields
Canaan Church
Banning Municipal Airport
Road Camp
A major portion of the west end to Highland Springs Rd. is Spring Valley . The over 55 retirement community offers a lot of activitys and programs for seniors.
Dysart Equestrian Park hosts the annual Stagecoach Day Rodeo.
The new Banning High School, located 2 miles south on San Gorgonio Ave., was completed in 1992. The old high school is now Nicolet Middle School.
Historical Note
The Banning Municipal Airport, which has been operating since the 1940s, is in the process of being shut down. The city council has voted to close the airport, a process that could take many years.
Business
7 Star Food Store
Entrance to KOA Campground
Highway 243 road to Idyllwild
Commercial Buildings
Banning Electric Sub-station
Warehouse
Highland Springs Shopping Center
Highland Springs looking north towards Ramsey
Entrance to Sun Lakes Village
New department stores at the old Kmart building
Banning industrial and commercial buildings are located in eastern area of South Banning. Banning's major shopping center can be found to the west along Highland Springs Rd.
heading south on San Gorgonio there will be a small market and the KOA Campground located just before head up to Mount San Jacinto. The campground is one of the oldest businesses still operating today.
You will find Banning's major shopping center off of Highlands Springs Rd., south of Highway 10. Businesses include - Big 5, Marchalls, Party Palace, Hobby Lobby, Albertsens, Baskin Robbins, and much more.
Historical Note
Before the construction of the freeway South San Gorgonio Ave. attracted many businesses running north and south of the railroad tracks.