Loading map...

1952 Map of Blue Diamond

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of Blue Diamond
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1970
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1970

About this map

The Blue Diamond mining settlement and its surrounding industrial and ranching landscape anchor this 1950s study. The Blue Diamond Mine and nearby Sandstone Quarry demonstrate the early extraction economy of the region, while the Union Pacific Road provides the critical rail link for shipping materials across the high desert. Settlement is concentrated at small outposts like Wheeler Camp Spring and the Oliver Ranch, illustrating how water sources dictated human activity.

The western half of the map is dominated by the dramatic topography of the La Madre Mountain and the Sandstone Bluffs, falling within the La Madre Mountain Game Range. Numerous springs, including Mormon Green Springs and First Cr Spring, emerge from the base of the Wilson Cliffs to feed Red Rock Wash. This terrain provides a detailed view of the natural barriers and essential water points that shaped movement through the Cottonwood Valley before major urban expansion reached this area.