1947 Map of Castle Butte SE

About this map

Mojave Desert terrain dominates this 1947 survey, revealing a landscape defined by isolated peaks and seasonal water features. The prominent Castle Butte stands as a primary navigational landmark in the northwest corner, while the Eighth Standard Parallel South serves as a critical survey boundary line across the arid flats. This military-derived compilation captures the area during a period of transition, showing sparse but significant human activity in an environment where water resources were paramount. Evidence of ranching and early habitation appears at Thundering Herd Ranch and the settlement of North Muroc, while a lone Windmill suggests the vital role of groundwater for survival in this dry stretch of Kern County. The map is a precise record of the desert's character before later developments, detailing the network of unimproved roads and trails that connected these remote outposts.