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1959 Map of Painted Rock

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Painted Rock
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1975
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1975

About this map

The Carrizo Plain and its surrounding geological formations dominate this 1959 survey, capturing a remote landscape of the California Central Coast defined by seasonal water and isolated ranching outposts. The expanse of Soda Lake sits at the northern edge, while the iconic monolith of Painted Rock provides a distinct landmark in the southwestern hills. The drainage patterns across the alkali flats and the flanking Temblor Range illustrate the stark hydraulic reality of this basin.

Evidence of human habitation is sparse and tied directly to water sources, such as Five Willow Spring and Sheep Camp Water. Agriculture in the region is represented by widely spaced operations like the R C Farm and the Selby Ranch Cow Camp. This map preserves the mid-century layout of these working ranches and the Painted Rock Ranch before modern conservation efforts shifted the land use of the Elkhorn Plain.