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1953 Map of Ridgecrest

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Ridgecrest
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1970
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1970

About this map

China Lake Naval Reservation dominates the landscape of this mid-century survey, illustrating the significant military and scientific expansion in the High Desert during the early Cold War. The nascent community of Ridgecrest is depicted with a growing network of local schools, including Burroughs High Sch, Grove Sch, and Monroe Sch, as well as essential facilities like Ridgecrest Hospital and the Davis Airport. The aviation footprint is centered on Armitage Field, while the Administration Bldg and Hosp mark the operational core of the naval base.

Industrial roots remain visible through the Rademacher Mine, Goldbug Mine, and Lonely Camp Mine, reflecting the older mineral extraction history of the Rademacher Hills and Argus Range. The Southern Pacific railroad provides the primary industrial link, skirting the desert basins of Mirror Lake and Satellite Lake. This map captures the specific moment when traditional mining was giving way to the sophisticated aerospace and military testing operations that would define the region's future.