Loading map...

1947 Map of Castle Butte

Name: 1947 Topographic Map of Castle Butte
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1947
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1947

About this map

Rand Mountains dominate the northern skyline of this mid-century topographic study, which captures the industrial and agricultural fringes of the Mojave Desert. The landscape is defined by the extraction of natural resources and isolated ranching outposts, most notably the Muroc Clay Co and mining operations at Number 3 and Number 4. These sites, along with the Desert Butte mine, illustrate the region's mid-century reliance on mineral wealth and clay processing.

Settlement patterns are sparse, anchored by North Muroc and family-named landmarks like G Mendiburu and the evocatively named Thundering Herd Ranch. The prominent geological formation of Castle Butte serves as a central waypoint in a terrain of dry lake beds and desert flats. This 1947 edition reflects the area's transition into a strategic corridor for military and industrial activities just after the war years.