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1948 Map of Bagdad

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Bagdad
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1948
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1948

About this map

Mining operations and remote cattle holdings define this high-desert landscape in Yavapai County during the late 1940s. The copper-rich district surrounding Bagdad serves as a primary focal point, anchored by the Hillside Mine and the Comstock Dexter Mine. These industrial sites are interspersed among a network of family-named landmarks like Bozarth Ranch and the SH Ranch, illustrating a transitional period where large-scale mineral extraction operated alongside traditional western ranching.

Water management is clearly critical to survival here, evidenced by the numerous named tanks and springs, including Brushy Basin Tank and Wilder Spr, which supported livestock and mining crews. The terrain shifts from the eastern boundaries of the Prescott National Forest down toward the Santa Maria River in the south, with prominent features like Wilder Mesa and Blue Mtn providing distinct navigational waypoints across a complex system of washes and canyons.