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1953 Map of Ridgecrest

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Ridgecrest
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1960
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1960

About this map

The Naval Ordnance Test Station dominates this high-desert landscape in the early 1950s, bridging the gap between the burgeoning settlements of China Lake and Ridgecrest. This era marks a significant transition from the region's mining roots to its post-war role as a center for military research and aviation. Near the central hubs, local life is documented through established landmarks like Burroughs High Sch and Richmond Sch, alongside civic amenities like the Ridgecrest Hospital and a Drive-in Theater.

To the south, the Rademacher Mining District preserves the older industrial character of the Indian Wells Valley. Numerous workings including the Rademacher Mine, Lonely Camp Mine, and St Elmo Mines dot the foothills of the Argus Range, reached by the Southern Pacific railroad line. The presence of Armitage Field and the Radio Range Station underscores the rapid technological expansion defining the Mojave Desert during the mid-century.