1972 Map of Bena

About this map

Caliente Creek carves a deep path through the southern Sierra Nevada foothills in this early 1970s survey, dictating the course of essential transportation routes in eastern Kern County. The map details a vital rail and road corridor connecting the small settlements of Bena, Ilmon, and Bealville along the winding Bena Road. These outposts, often centered on rail sidings or benchmarks, served as critical points of contact for the surrounding cattle country. In the rugged highlands, the landscape is defined by vast tracts of the El Tejon ranch and numerous family-named landmarks like Walker Basin and Pampa Peak. Local history is preserved in the location of the Cem near Bealville and the Rock House (Ruins) in the north. A high density of springs, including Rattlesnake Spring and Hog Camp Spring, highlights the critical importance of water management for livestock in this arid, canyon-cut terrain.