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1969 Map of Columbia

Name: 1969 Topographic Map of Columbia
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1988
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1988

About this map

Columbia stands at the center of this 1969 topographic study, situated along the Gila and Salt River Meridian in the high desert of the Bradshaw Mountains. The settlement pattern reflects a mid-century cattle and mining economy, where established landmarks like the Champie Ranch and the nearby Champie Sch served a sparse population of ranchers and prospectors. The landscape is heavily marked by small-scale mineral extraction, with named claims such as the Pero Bonito Mine, Lunan Mine, and Hardtimes Mine clustered along the drainages of Humbug Creek and Rockwall Gulch.

Tracing the complex network of pack trails reveals the connectivity between isolated points like the Fort Tule (Site) and the numerous springs that dictated movement through this terrain. Evidence of earlier habitation is visible in the ruins near Columbia and the scattered graves marked simply as Cem, providing a window into the difficult conditions faced by those who worked these claims. The presence of water sources like Hessmann Spring and Mulberry Spring underscores the critical importance of riparian access in the arid Yavapai County backcountry.