1915 Map of Benson

About this map

Benson and Tombstone serve as the primary anchors of this Southern Arizona landscape, which in the early twentieth century was defined by a complex intersection of mining, military presence, and rail logistics. The San Pedro River valley acts as the central corridor for both water and transport, supporting settlements like St David and Fairbank. The mining legacy of the era is evident in the hills surrounding Tombstone, where features like the Panama Mine and numerous gulches point to the intensive extraction efforts of the day. To the southwest, the Fort Huachuca Military Reservation dominates the base of the Huachuca Mts, reflecting the strategic importance of this borderland region. Transport is facilitated by an extensive network of the Southern Pacific and El Paso and Southwestern railroads, which connect ranching outposts such as Boedeckers Ranch and Wakefield Ranch to the larger regional hubs.