1958 Map of Ritter Ridge

About this map

San Andreas Rift Zone geology dominates the landscape of this late 1950s survey, marking a distinct trench between Ritter Ridge and the southern Sierra Pelona range. The map illustrates a transitional era for the High Desert as the settlement of Palmdale begins expanding westward near Lake Palmdale. Amidst the sagebrush and canyons, traces of the region’s hard-rock mining history remain visible in the southwestern corner, featuring the Puritan Mine, Red Rover Mine, and Governor Mine. Traditional agricultural and ranching lifestyles are represented by long-established sites like Messer Ranch and Tuckerway Ranch, even as modern infrastructure like the Hauser Microwave Sta and the burgeoning Antelope Valley Country Club signify the coming suburban shift. The drainage patterns of Amargosa Creek and Anaverde Creek provide the primary hydrological structure for the surrounding valley floor.