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1962 Map of Caliente Mtn

Name: 1962 Topographic Map of Caliente Mtn
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1962
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1962

About this map

Soda Lake dominates the northern alkali flats of this 1962 survey, which documents a remote ranching and petroleum-focused landscape along the border of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. The central and southern portions of the map reveal a significant industrial presence within the Cuyama Valley, specifically the Russell Ranch Oil Field, Taylor Canyon Oil Field, and Morales Canyon Oil Field. This concentration of drilling sites, interspersed with high-desert landmarks like Painted Rock, illustrates the mid-century energy development that defined the region.

Scattered across the arid canyons and plains are numerous established ranching operations, including Chimineas Ranch, Spanish Ranch, and Goodwin Ranch. The complex topography of the Temblor Range and Caliente Mtn is punctuated by critical water sources such as Black Sulphur Spring and Cottonwood Spring, which were essential for both cattle and oil operations. The map also captures the Cuyama River as it winds through the valley, flanked by the Los Padres National Forest boundary to the west.