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1961 Map of Parkfield

Name: 1961 Topographic Map of Parkfield
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1962
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1962

About this map

Parkfield serves as the central hub of this rugged Central Coast interior, situated where the Cholame Valley meets the foothills of Middle Mountain. The 1961 landscape is defined by its complex geology and scattered human outposts, featuring a network of isolated homesteads and mining sites like the Patriquin Mine and Kings Mine in the northern heights near Mustang Peak. Ranching life is evident through landmarks such as the Heg Ranch, Cholame Ranch, and the remains at Riley Cabin.

The presence of an Airstrip and a Radio Facility near the settlement underscores the logistical challenges of this remote terrain, while numerous oil wells and drill holes suggest the industrial reach into the canyons. Water is a precious resource here, marked by named sites like Covington Lake and Kerr Spring. For genealogists and local historians, the Parkfield Cemetery and family-named cabins like the Taylor Cabin or Merrill Cabin provide direct links to the families who worked this land across the Monterey and San Luis Obispo county lines.