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1960 Map of Ranchita

Name: 1960 Topographic Map of Ranchita
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1961
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1961

About this map

Montezuma Valley serves as a central corridor for this 1960s study of the high desert and mountain interface in San Diego County. The settlement of Ranchita sits at the intersection of high-elevation ranching and the descent into the arid lowlands. Water sources are critical markers across this landscape, with named springs such as Lithia Spring, Paroli Spring, and Catfish Spring punctuating the arid stretches. The map documents the overlap of diverse land management, ranging from the Los Coyotes Indian Reservation and Santa Ysabel Indian Reservation to the western fringes of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

Resource extraction and social history are evident in the presence of the Montezuma Mine and the Grapevine Mine near the Grapevine Hills. The remote nature of the terrain is further highlighted by the Montezuma Honor Camp and isolated landmarks like Camel Rock. Roadways like San Felipe Road trace the natural path of the San Felipe Valley, passing small roadside locations like San Felipe and an unnamed cemetery, providing a detailed look at the rural infrastructure of the era.