1973 Map of Bissell

About this map

Edwards Air Force Base dominates the southern landscape of this high desert terrain, where the Air Force Test Center and various military reservation boundaries underscore the region's importance to national defense during the 1970s. The northern reaches are defined by the tracks of the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad, which passes near the small settlement of Bissell. The topography is marked by distinctive formations including De Stazo Hill, Lookout Hill, and Brown Butte, rising above the surrounding flats. Military and industrial infrastructure is visible throughout, including a Radio Facility, several Radio Tower sites, and a designated Target. These features, along with scattered Mine and Prospect locations, reflect a landscape utilized for both tactical training and resource extraction in Kern County.