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1948 Map of Alvord Mountain

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Alvord Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1956
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1956

About this map

Alvord Mountain dominates this High Desert landscape, serving as a prominent landmark within the northern reaches of San Bernardino County. In the late 1940s, the terrain was defined by the intersection of military activity and isolated desert industry, most notably at the Alvord Mine and the sprawling Camp Irwin Military Reservation. Sparse water sources were the lifeblood of the region, anchored by Garlic Spring, Langford Well, and Alvord Well, while the dry expanse of Coyote Lake marks the southern portion of the sheet.

Transportation through this arid corridor relied on the heavy rails of the Union Pacific and a network of unimproved routes, including a Private Road and a specific Loading Corral that suggests active ranching or freighting operations. The inclusion of the Military Reservation Boundary (Approximate) highlights the era's evolving land use as the United States Department of the Army Corps of Engineers established a permanent presence in the Mojave.