1942 Map of Comobabi

About this map

Picacho Mine and several other extraction sites anchor the southwestern foothills of the South Comobabi Mountains, reflecting the mineral prospecting that shaped this desert landscape before World War II. The map, based on a 1937 survey, documents the remote settlements and infrastructure within the Papago Indian Reservation, where water availability dictated the placement of small communities like Sil Nakya and Sand Wells. A sparse network of trails and unimproved roads connects these outposts across the Santa Rosa Valley to family-named landmarks such as Mt Devine. The presence of numerous Wells and small scattered settlements like Ko Vaya and Wickchoupai highlights the adaptation to the arid climate, while the cluster of Cooncan Mine and Mildren Mine suggests the localized intensity of early 20th-century mining activity.