1929 Map of Bena

About this map

El Tejon landscape dominates the southern and central portions of this 1929 survey, revealing the critical transportation corridors through Kern County. The map focuses on the narrow transit corridor where the Southern Pacific railroad and the Tehachapi Highway run parallel, following the natural contours of the valley. A prominent bend in the rail line at Walker marks a significant waypoint for the steam-era logistics of the time. The drainage patterns of Cottonwood Creek and Basin Creek are intricately detailed, showing how water management and topography dictated the placement of early infrastructure. As an advance sheet produced by T. G. Gerdine and S. N. Stoner, it serves as a precise record of the land before significant mid-century development, capturing the sparse but vital network of rails and roads that connected California's interior.