1961 Map of Orchard Peak

About this map

The Temblor Range and San Luis Obispo and Kern County line dominate this early 1960s survey of the California Coast Ranges. The map documents an arid, industrializing landscape where water management and oil extraction shape the human footprint. Significant infrastructure, including the Antelope Pumping Sta and a long-distance Pipeline, underscores the region's role in the state's resource network. Small settlements like Annette and Kecks Corner appear alongside more remote mountain crossings such as Palo Prieto Pass and Polonio Pass. The geography is characterized by several distinct basins, notably Barrel Valley and Choice Valley, separated by dramatic ridges like Bluestone Ridge. Ephemeral water features like Twisselmann Lake and Long Lake suggest a seasonal hydrological cycle, while the presence of Oil Wells near Devils Den marks the northern extent of the local petroleum fields.