Loading map...

1958 Map of Cathedral City

Name: 1958 Topographic Map of Cathedral City
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

The Agua Caliente Indian Reservation dominates this mid-century landscape, framing the early expansion of Cathedral City and Thousand Palms against the stark rise of the Indio Hills. The era's recreational growth is evidenced by the burgeoning green spaces of the Tamarisk Country Club and Thunderbird Country Club, which contrast sharply with the surrounding desert floor of the Coachella Valley. Transport infrastructure is anchored by the Southern Pacific railroad line and Palm Springs Airport, which provided critical access during this period of post-war development.

Local landmarks like the Drive-in Theater and the Palm Springs Dist Cem offer touchpoints for genealogists, while the path of the Whitewater River and Tahquitz Creek illustrate the natural hydrology that shaped settlement patterns. Small stations such as Salvia and Rimlon along the tracks, along with the Thousand Palms Dry Camp Siding, reflect the rail-dependent economy that preceded the modern suburban sprawl of the region.