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1955 Map of Desert Hot Springs

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Desert Hot Springs
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

Desert Hot Springs stands as a focal point of development in this mid-century desert landscape, situated at the base of the Little San Bernardino Mountains. The 1955 survey data, updated with 1972 revisions, reveals a transition from scattered desert outposts like Lost Heads Ranch and Dos Palmas Corners to more formalized residential planning along West Pierson Blvd. The critical infrastructure of the Coachella Valley is evident through the massive Colorado River Aqueduct cutting across the terrain and the Southern Pacific rail line following the lowlands of the San Gorgonio Pass.

Resource extraction and ranching history are marked by features such as the Super Creek Mine and the Lazy C Ranch. The map captures the distinct topography of the region, from the steep slopes of the San Jacinto Mountains at the southern edge to the wind-swept reaches of Windy Point. The alignment of the Twentynine Palms Highway and various desert washes, including Mission Creek and Morongo Wash, illustrates the geographic constraints that shaped local travel and settlement during this era.