1933 Map of West Alpine Butte

About this map

Antelope Valley defines the character of this 1930s landscape, where the high desert floor is meticulously gridded by long stretches of dirt and gravel thoroughfares like Tierra Bonita Road and Avenue M. The prominent landform of Alpine Butte rises sharply in the southeast corner, providing a stark topographical contrast to the surrounding flats. This survey by J.L. Lewis captures a critical moment in Los Angeles County's desert development, when water access was the primary driver of settlement. Several isolated wells are noted across the quadrangle, highlighting the reliance on groundwater before modern infrastructure reached this reach of the Mojave. The ephemeral nature of the local hydrology is evident in the paths of Little Rock Wash and Little Rock Creek, which carve shifting channels through the southwest as they descend toward the valley floor.