1915 Map of Christmas

About this map

The mining settlement of Christmas serves as a focal point for this 1915 survey of the Gila and Pinal County borderlands. At this time, the region was defined by a rugged mining economy, evidenced by several specialized operations including the Two Queens Mine, Pools Mine, and the Lower Coal Field Mine. The Gila River cuts through the center of the landscape, passing through the narrow Needles Eye and marking the southern boundary of the San Carlos Indian Reservation. Remote outposts like Dettles Ranch and Mings Ranch appear alongside industrial remnants like the Old Mill near Ash creek. The topography transitions from the high peaks of the Mescal Mountains down into Granite Basin and Reed Basin, illustrating the isolated network of springs and canyons that supported early Arizona prospecting and ranching before large-scale modernization.