1972 Map of Cross Mountain

About this map

Brostman Spring and Schoolhouse Well indicate the critical importance of water management in this arid section of Kern County during the early 1970s. The landscape is defined by the deep incisions of Jawbone Canyon and Cottonwood Creek, which separate prominent elevations like Cross Mountain, White Mountain, and Toms Hill. The survey reveals a history of resource extraction, particularly in the southeast near Antimony Flat, where the Amalia Mine is located alongside various unnamed Mines and a Prospect. Human activity in the area is largely facilitated by a network of 4wd tracks that navigate the complex topography, connecting remote points such as Hoffman Summit to the canyon floors. This map documents a transition in land use, where mining interests and cattle fencing, marked by numerous red dashed lines, coexist with the natural drainage systems of Little Jawbone Canyon and several unnamed Springs.