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1952 Map of Ripley

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of Ripley
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1977
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1977

About this map

The Palo Verde Valley is defined by a dense grid of irrigation and transport infrastructure in this mid-century survey. The settlement of Ripley serves as a hub for the surrounding agricultural tracts, supported by the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad line. To the north, the Blythe Airport and specialized facilities like the Gas Compressor Sta and Radio Sta KYOR illustrate the post-war industrialization of the desert landscape.

Water management is the dominant theme of this terrain, evidenced by an intricate network of channels including the Central Canal, Rannells Drain, and the Palo Verde Drain. The transition from the flat, irrigated valley floor to the elevated Mesa is sharp, with the Palo Verde Lagoon and various levees marking the boundary where reclamation efforts meet the arid California interior. Small communities like Neighbors and the Community Farm Center highlight the local social fabric of this desert farming region.