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1947 Map of Lucerne Valley

Name: 1947 Topographic Map of Lucerne Valley
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

Big Bear Lake and the developing community of Big Bear City anchor the southern reaches of this transition from alpine heights to high desert. The 1940s landscape is defined by the contrast between the timbered slopes of the San Bernardino National Forest and the stark expanse of the Mojave Desert to the north. Evidence of the region's mining heritage is widespread, including the Doble Mine (Aband) near the eastern shore of Baldwin Lake and the Blackhawk Mine (Aband) on the northern face of Blackhawk Mtn.

Settlement patterns follow the reliable water sources that made ranching possible in an arid environment. Locations like the Box S Ranch and Smarts Ranch represent the agricultural footprint, while the Midway Sch and a local Cem near Lucerne Valley mark the social infrastructure of these remote outposts. Further west, the village of Fawnskin sits along the north shore of the reservoir, serving as a gateway to the high valleys like Holcomb Valley.