1973 Map of Mojave NE

About this map

Barren Ridge and the winding Tree Canyon dominate the northwestern high ground of this Kern County landscape, dropping sharply toward the desert floor. The industrial footprint of the region is defined by the Los Angeles Aqueduct, which skirts the base of the mountains, and the long diagonal of the Southern Pacific railroad line. The map illustrates the planned expansion of California City, showing an extensive grid of streets like Lindbergh Blvd and Cheyenne Blvd etched into the arid terrain near the California City Airport. These surveyed but largely undeveloped blocks reflect the mid-century ambitions of desert urbanization. Scattered Prospects and named points like Phil and Fremont suggest a history of exploration and transit between the mountains and the valley floor.