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1969 Map of San Benito Mtn

Name: 1969 Topographic Map of San Benito Mtn
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1980
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1980

About this map

The rugged San Benito Mountain summit dominates this late-1960s landscape, a region defined by its history of mining and remote livestock operations. The San Benito River and Los Gatos Creek carve deep drainages through the terrain, which is crisscrossed by an extensive network of primitive paths and the Jeep Trail. Evidence of the area's industrial past is scattered across the slopes, from the San Benito Mill (Site) to specialized operations like the Asbestos Ridge Mine.

Remote settlements and landmarks such as Lewis Flat and Goat Mountain provide geographic anchors in a territory where San Benito, Fresno, and Monterey counties meet. Mineral exploration is pervasive, with the Picacho Mine, St Thomas Mine, and Florence Mack Mine indicating the intense geological interest of the era. The presence of a solitary Grave and various Prospects near Asbestos Ridge suggests the solitary and often difficult nature of life for those working these claims in the California Coast Ranges.