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1973 Map of Mojave NE

Name: 1973 Topographic Map of Mojave NE
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1994
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1994

About this map

The planned expansion of California City into the high desert is a defining feature of this 1970s survey. Grid-patterned streets like Lindbergh Blvd, Mendiburu Rd, and Poppy Blvd appear in the Fremont Valley, contrasting sharply with the undeveloped terrain to the west. The massive engineering of the Second Los Angeles Aqueduct cuts diagonally across the landscape, crossing the rugged slopes of Barren Ridge and passing near the mouth of Tree Canyon.

A network of prospects along the ridgeline suggests historical mineral exploration, while the presence of numerous wells and several dry wells underscores the critical importance of water management in this arid Kern County environment. The map captures a specific moment of mid-century suburban ambition, showing the California City Airport and residential tracts just as they were beginning to push toward the foothills.