1943 Map of Cochise

About this map

The vast expanse of Willcox Playa dominates the center of this landscape, a remnant of a prehistoric lakebed within the larger Sulphur Spring Valley. To the west, the rugged Dragoon Mountains rise sharply, anchored by Dragoon Pk and the northern reaches of the Coronado National Forest. This era shows a high-desert economy reliant on ranching and extraction, with family-named outposts like Steele Ranch and Flanders Ranch scattered across the basin. The Southern Pacific railroad serves as the primary artery of the region, connecting the larger settlement of Willcox with smaller sidings at Hado and Cochise. Mining activity is evident in the foothills at the Golden Rule Mine and Red Bird Mine. Rural infrastructure is detailed through landmarks like the Sulphur Spring School, an Airway Beacon, and various windmills used to sustain livestock in this arid environment.