1950 Map of Goose Lake

About this map

Indian Burial Mounds are located throughout this arid landscape, indicating a long history of human presence on the edges of the Goose Lake Bed. By the mid-20th century, the area had transformed into a region defined by extensive water management and ranching. A complex network of irrigation channels, including the Eastside Canal, Westside Canal, and the Goose Lake Canal, crisscrosses the dry lake basin to support local agriculture. This managed landscape is punctuated by isolated homesteads such as Banducci Ranch and Carmel Ranch. The map also reveals the recreational and social life of the era, from the Semitropic Ridge down to the lowlands, featuring the Doheny Gun Club and the Semitropic Sch, serving the scattered rural community of Kern County.