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1983 Map of Kelso

Name: 1983 Topographic Map of Kelso
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1983
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1983

About this map

The Union Pacific railroad corridor anchors this high desert landscape in San Bernardino County, where the small settlement of Kelso serves as a vital infrastructure hub. The map captures the meeting point of desert transport and industrial history, showing the railroad tracks flanked by Water Tanks and a Cem nearby. To the west, the Kelso Mountains rise dramatically, topped by Kelso Peak, while the broad expanse of the Kelso Wash cuts through the alluvial plains.

Evidence of desert prospecting and early livestock management is visible in labels for a Mine, several Prospect sites, and a Corral. The layout of Kelbaker Road and Cima Road highlights the area's role as a transit node through the arid terrain. This 1983 survey provides a clear view of the relationship between the railway and the isolated outposts of the Mojave before later modernization altered the local character.