1947 Map of Rich

About this map

Leuhman Ridge rises sharply from the arid floor of the Mojave Desert in this post-war survey of the Kern County desert. The landscape is dominated by the sprawling Muroc Army Airfield Military Reservation, reflecting the region's mid-century importance for aviation and defense. The northern edge of the map features the established settlement of Boron and the rail-stop of Rich, both situated along the tracks of the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe. This era represents a period of significant military expansion in the high desert, where the natural terrain of the Antelope Valley provided the open space necessary for testing. The map captures the intersection of industrial rail transport and secretive military activity, with many improved and unimproved dirt roads branching off toward the interior of the military reservation.