Loading map...

1954 Map of Midway Well

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Midway Well
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

East Mesa and the surrounding Sand Dunes define the stark landscape of the California-Mexico border in the mid-1950s. The vital infrastructure of the All American Canal cuts across the arid terrain, supported by technical features like the Siphon, a Flume, and multiple Gaging Stations. This area represents a period of significant agricultural experimentation in the desert, as evidenced by Experimental Farm No 1 and Experimental Farm No 2, which were positioned to utilize the new water resources.

The settlement at Midway Well serves as a lonely landmark along the route through the dunes, while the industrial management of the canal is highlighted by hydroelectric installations such as Power Drop No 4 and Power Drop No 2. This survey, compiled from 1948 aerial photography and field-checked in 1954, documents the engineering required to bring irrigation and power to the southernmost edge of Imperial County.