Loading map...

1943 Map of Sawtooth Ridge

Name: 1943 Topographic Map of Sawtooth Ridge
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1943
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1943

About this map

Kecks Corners serves as a lone commercial focal point in this 1943 survey, marking the intersection where State Route 33 and State Route 41 meet. The landscape is dominated by the dramatic uplift of the Temblor Range and the Sawtooth Ridge, which separate the broad expanse of Antelope Valley from the more secluded Barrel Valley. This wartime-era map, prepared under the direction of the Corps of Engineers, details a high-desert environment where water sources like Aido Spring and the ephemeral San Francisco Creek were vital for local travel and livestock.

The topography transitions from the steep, serrated peaks of the Pyramid Hills and Avenal Ridge to the low, open flats of the valley floor. Researchers can find several specific survey points, including USC & GS Corral BM 745, which pinpoint early 20th-century geodetic work. The map's focus on prominent natural landmarks like Point of Rocks and Raven Pass underscores the importance of navigation through this gap in the California coastal ranges.