1972 Map of Blue Diamond

About this map

Spring Mountains and the stark Sandstone Bluffs dominate this 1970s landscape, where small desert settlements and water sources define the human geography. The village of Blue Diamond sits near the base of Blue Diamond Hill, supported by the presence of the Blue Diamond Mine and a local Tramway connected to the Union Pacific railroad line. This area illustrates the critical importance of isolated water points in the arid Cottonwood Valley, with several established ranching and recreational sites including Spring Mountain Ranch, Bonnie Springs, and Oliver Ranch. Numerous named water sources like Mormon Green Springs and Lone Willow Spring trace the routes through the Bird Spring Range. The map also records early industrial infrastructure, from Prospects to the essential Water Tanks that sustained the railroad and mining operations.