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1956 Map of Frink NW

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Frink NW
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

Hot Mineral Spa and a nearby Tropical Fish Farm stand as distinct centers of activity in this desert landscape, situated just north of the Southern Pacific railroad line. The mid-century development of the region is defined by the massive Coachella Canal, which carves across the arid basin, marked by numerous siphons and a protective levee system. This vital water infrastructure supported localized industry and recreation along the border of Riverside and Imperial counties.

The eastern half of the map is dominated by the steep, rising slopes of the Chocolate Mountains, much of which is designated as the Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range. Within this military-controlled zone and along its Naval Reservation Boundary, several Rock Quarry sites and a Gravel Pit indicate the extraction of resources from the stony terrain. The drainage of Salt Creek provides a natural counterpoint to the engineered precision of the canal and the nearby Pipeline.