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1954 Map of Caliente

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Caliente
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1954
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1954

About this map

The Union Pacific railroad cuts a vital corridor through Lincoln County's basin and range topography, anchoring rail stops like Caliente and Acoma during the mid-1950s. Mining activity is central to the local economy, evidenced by the Prince Mine near Pioche and the established town of Delamar within its namesake mountains. This survey illustrates a landscape of extreme contrast, where agricultural settlements like Alamo and Hiko in the Pahranagat Valley sit in the shadow of massive military tracts.

To the west, the Las Vegas Bombing and Gunnery Range encompasses vast dry lake beds including Groom Lake and Papoose Lake, reflecting the Cold War era's burgeoning aerospace and defense presence. High-altitude peaks such as Highland Peak and Mount Ely dominate the skyline, while the drainage of the Meadow Valley Wash provides a north-south lifeline through the arid terrain, connecting the remote station at Carp to the northern mining districts.