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1956 Map of Truckhaven

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Truckhaven
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1959
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1959

About this map

The arid shoreline of the Salton Sea dominates this mid-century survey of Imperial County, revealing a landscape defined by seasonal desert drainages and specialized government activity. At the time of this 1956 study, the sea level was recorded at 235 feet below sea level, creating a vast alluvial expanse where numerous washes like Palm Wash, Arroyo Salada, and Tule Wash fan out toward the water. The small settlement of Truckhaven serves as a primary reference point along the highway, while the presence of the Salton Sea Test Base suggests the area's strategic importance during the Cold War era.

Evidence of early resource exploration is visible through scattered Oil Test Wells and a Gravel Pit near Clay Point. The northern portion of the map includes a section of the Torres Martinez Indian Reservation, illustrating the intersection of sovereign tribal lands with state-managed water resources and desert geography. From the named watering hole at Squeaky Springs to the intricate network of desert washes such as Iberia Wash and Biloxi Wash, the map documents a transition point between the harsh Colorado Desert and the rising inland sea.