Loading map...

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 and Ridgecrest serve as the primary hubs in this mid-century desert landscape, illustrating the rapid expansion of military and civilian infrastructure within the Indian Wells Valley. The map detail reveals a specialized community revolving around the Naval Reservation Boundary, where Armitage Field and various administrative buildings like the Administration Bldg sit adjacent to local schools such as Burroughs High Sch and Vieweg Sch.

South of the residential and military centers, the terrain transitions into the Rademacher Mining District, where the Southern Pacific RR skirts the hills. This area is dense with historical mineral extraction sites, including the Rademacher Mine and Goldbug Mine, providing a clear view of the region's dual identity as both a high-tech naval testing ground and a traditional mining landscape. Cultural markers like the Drive-In Theater and Davis Airport further define the era's local layout.