1949 Map of Trona

About this map

Industrial activity and desert topography define this high-altitude landscape near the junction of Inyo and San Bernardino Counties. The Trona Railway serves the chemical operations at Searles Lake, connecting the settlement of Trona and nearby Argus to the broader regional economy. The eastern portion of the sheet reveals the sharp elevation changes of the Slate Range and the Panamint Valley, where the Naval Ordnance Test Station Reservation marks a transition into military-controlled territory. Scattered throughout the mountains are numerous small-scale mining operations like the Orendo Mine and Veeta Mine, alongside vital water sources such as Indian Joe Spring and Bainter Spring. This 1940s landscape shows the critical infrastructure required for desert survival and industry, from the isolated Valley Wells to the remote Trona Airport.