1930 Map of Joshua

About this map

The high desert landscape of Antelope Valley is defined here by its isolation and the stark boundary of the Kern-Los Angeles County Line. Surveyed in 1930, the region reveals a sparse network of early 20th-century survival and infrastructure, centered around the settlement at Darrwin and the vital water sources marked simply as Well. The northeast corner is dominated by the southern reaches of Rogers Dry Lake, a landmark that would later become synonymous with aviation history. A series of prominent Buttes rise sharply from the valley floor, providing the only significant relief in a terrain otherwise characterized by the winding path of Well Road and the enigmatic area noted as Casa Desierta. This survey captures the Mojave Desert just as early ranching and geological exploration began to leave a permanent mark on the landscape.