1949 Map of Circle Mesa

About this map

J McMillen Ranch and E McMillen Ranch anchor the southwestern drainage of Mangas Creek in this 1949 field survey of the High Desert. The landscape is defined by the sharp transition from the elevated Circle Mesa and Treasure Mountain down into a complex system of seasonal watercourses. These drainages, including Cottonwood Canyon, Fleming Canyon, and Blacksmith Canyon, reveal a network of ranching outposts reliant on scattered water sources like Cane Spring and Dud Tank. The boundary of the Gila National Forest cuts through the western portion of the map, where early cattle operations like Allison Ranch maintained a Sheep Corral. The topography indicates a remote pastoral economy where movement was dictated by the deep incisions of the canyons and the availability of perennial springs.