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1952 Map of Ash Meadows

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of Ash Meadows
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1971
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1971

About this map

The Amargosa Desert straddles the arid border of Nevada and California, dominated by a landscape of scattered springs and specialized desert industries. At the heart of this region is Death Valley Junction, a hub defined by the remnants of the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad, which once served the local mining and transport needs of the Amargosa Valley. The importance of groundwater in this environment is evident through named watering points like Crystal Pool, Fairbanks Spr, and Franklin Well, which supported both livestock and early settlements.

Industrial activity is marked by numerous Clay Pits and the remote Clay Camp, illustrating the extraction of minerals from the valley's geological deposits. Historical surveying boundaries are clearly delineated by the Von Schmidt Line, cutting through the Carson Slough north of the Resting Spring Range. From the Shadow Mtn peak to the extensive Alkali Flat, the map reveals a desert economy transitioning away from its rail-dependent origins.