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1915 Map of Searles Lake

Name: 1915 Topographic Map of Searles Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1938
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1938

About this map

Mining operations and early high-desert settlements define this landscape during the first decades of the twentieth century. The industrial hub of Trona sits on the edge of Searles Lake, supported by the Soda Works and connected to the broader region by the Trona RR. To the south, the mining boom towns of Johannesburg and Randsburg serve as anchors for the local economy, near where the Southern Pacific railroad meets branches like the Lowenyo Branch.

Remote outposts and family-named landmarks like Paxton Ranch and McDonalds Ranch suggest a sparse but persistent human presence across the Mojave desert. Water sources, vital for survival and industry, are meticulously recorded, ranging from Indian Wells to the Blackhawk Well. On the eastern edge, the topography rises toward the Death Valley National Monument, showcasing the dramatic elevation changes between the basins and peaks like Argus Peak.