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1932 Map of Barstow

Name: 1932 Topographic Map of Barstow
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1956
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1956

About this map

The Mojave River serves as the vital lifeline through this arid High Desert landscape, its course dictates the corridor for both the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe RR and early regional roads. The topography is defined by significant island-like formations such as Iron Mountain, Sidewinder Mtn, and the Granite Mountain range, which ring the expansive flats of Hinkley Valley and Apple Valley.

Settlement patterns in the early 1930s remain closely tied to the railroad and the river, with Barstow emerging as a primary hub. Small communities and stops like Oro Grande, Helendale, and Hodge highlight the era's reliance on rail transit and riparian access. Industrial activity is evident in the presence of the Apex Mine and Western States Mine, while more isolated outposts like Las Cruces Ranch and Adelanto suggest the slow expansion of agricultural and ranching efforts into the surrounding desert.