1957 Map of Bellota Ranch

About this map

Coronado National Forest dominates this landscape in the late 1950s, characterized by the dramatic shift from the high peaks of the Santa Catalina Mountains down to the ranching country below. The rugged northern terrain is marked by industrial history at the Gessaman Mine Group and Leatherwood Mine Group, while Palisade Ranger Sta and the Federal Honor Camp indicate a managed wilderness. Recreational development is evident through the Boy Scout Camp and Girl Scout Camp tucked away near Mt Bigelow. To the south, the terrain levels into the arid basins where Bellota Ranch and Agua Caliente Ranch rely on a network of isolated water sources like Juanito Well and Sycamore Spring Reservoir. This map illustrates the intersection of mid-century conservation, resource extraction, and the established cattle ranching tradition of Pima County.