1952 Map of La Panza

About this map

La Panza and the surrounding high desert terrain are defined by the convergence of the Temblor Range and the southern reaches of the Los Padres National Forest. Based on field work from the 1920s with early 1950s cultural updates, this sheet captures the transition from cattle ranching to early petroleum exploration. Small outposts like French Camp and Pinole Ranch are situated along the drainage of San Juan Creek, while the presence of an Oil Well (Aband) near Freeborn Mtn hints at the mid-century industrial prospecting in San Luis Obispo County. The landscape is marked by numerous vital water sources like Mustang Spring and Machado Spr, essential for the remote ranching operations of the era. To the southwest, the terrain rises sharply toward Machesna Mtn and the steep divides of Willow Canyon, illustrating the isolated character of this central coast interior.