1947 Map of Castle Butte SE

About this map

The Mojave Desert terrain of eastern Kern County was undergoing significant military-related study in the late 1940s, as reflected in this sheet compiled by the Army Map Service. The landscape is dominated by the prominent volcanic profile of Castle Butte to the northwest, overlooking a vast network of intermittent lakes and dry lakebeds. Commercial activity is centered on the extraction of desert resources, evidenced by the presence of the Muroc Clay Co (Abandoned). While the area is largely arid, isolated features such as a Windmill and the Thundering Herd Ranch indicate small-scale pastoral and ranching efforts. Near the southern boundary, the settlement of North Muroc sits alongside established transportation routes, marking a point of transition between the open desert and the growing military infrastructure of the region during this post-war era.