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1973 Map of Bissell

Name: 1973 Topographic Map of Bissell
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1976
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1976

About this map

Edwards Air Force Base dominates the southern landscape of this Kern County survey, establishing the area's mid-century role as a primary aviation testing ground. The Air Force Flight Test Center spans the central terrain, bordered by the formal Military Reservation Boundary. This military presence is juxtaposed with the industrial infrastructure of the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad, which runs across the northern edge through the small stations of Sanborn and Bissell.

Topographically, the area is defined by the Bissell Hills and Rosamond Hills, which rise above the high desert floor. Several smaller peaks including Brown Butte, Lookout Hill, and De Stazo Hill punctuate the horizon. Historical mining activity is evident through scattered Prospects and a Mine, while modern technical installations like a Radio Facility, Radio Towers, and a specialized Target highlight the desert's shift from extraction to aerospace technology.