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1942 Map of Barrel Spring

Name: 1942 Topographic Map of Barrel Spring
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1956
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1956

About this map

The Vallecito Mountains and Fish Creek Mountains dominate this arid landscape, showing a transition from steep topography to the wide expanse of Lower Borrego Valley. In the early 1940s, this desert region featured sparse but critical water points like Barrel Spring and the ephemeral Benson Dry Lake. The settlement of Ocotillo sits at a crossroads along Route 78, serving as a small outpost in the vast drylands.

Industrial activity is evident at the Gypsum Mine in the southern portion of the map, connected by a specialized Pacific Portland Cement rail line or heavy-duty road. The presence of Little Borrego and the Old Kane Spring Road highlights the established transit routes that preceded more modern development. These features collectively illustrate a period of resource extraction and desert navigation before the expansion of recreation in the Anza-Borrego region.