1955 Map of Cibola

About this map

The Colorado River carves a winding path through the desert landscape of the Palo Verde Valley and Cibola Valley in the mid-1950s. This survey, conducted during the administrations of Governors Ernest W. McFarland and Goodwin J. Knight, documents a transitional era of water management and agriculture along the Arizona-California border. The presence of an extensive Irrigation Ditch network and numerous Pump stations illustrates the mid-century effort to reclaim the arid flats for farming. Near the settlement of Cibola, the map records essential local landmarks including the Airport, a Water Tank, and nearby Ruins. The desert geography is defined by seasonal drainages like Hart Mine Wash and Milpitas Wash, which flow toward the river from the surrounding Palo Verde Mountains and Trigo Mts. Features like the Hart Mine and MK Ranch provide specific points of interest for those tracing the history of industry and ranching in the Yuma County region.