1972 Map of Joshua Tree North

About this map

The community of Joshua Tree serves as a central hub in this 1970s desert landscape, situated at the base of the Bartlett Mountains. The area exhibits a pattern of mid-century residential expansion, with a grid of planned streets such as Sunset Avenue and Broadway pushing into the arid basins of Coyote Valley and Surprise Valley. The heavy reliance on groundwater is evident through the numerous charted wells, including Well 2694 and Well 2735, which supported local development and the nearby Hi Desert Airport. Beyond the residential core, the map captures a landscape defined by prominent landforms like Moonlight Mesa and Bunker Mountain, alongside practical infrastructure like the Sewage Disposal Ponds and a Pipeline. This document provides a clear view of the Mojave's transition from a collection of isolated Prospects to a more established desert settlement.