Loading map...

1944 Map of Cortez

Name: 1944 Topographic Map of Cortez
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1944
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1944

About this map

Cortez Mountains dominate this 1930s landscape, illustrating the high-desert mining economy of central Nevada. The map centers on the small settlement of Cortez, situated at the base of Mt Tenabo, where the Cortez Mine and Mill Canyon Mines mark the industrial activity of the period. This era of extraction is further evidenced by the Turquoise Mine to the west, while the presence of the Mill Canyon Sch suggests a community established enough to support local education for mining and ranching families.

Transitioning from the heights into Crescent Valley and Grass Valley, the landscape shifts toward isolated agricultural outposts. Named locations such as Caetano Ranch, Horse Ranch, and Francis Cabin provide specific points of interest for genealogists tracing early residents of the Lander and Eureka county line. Water sources are critical here, with named features like Dugout Spring, Willow Creek, and Hot Springs Point indicating the essential infrastructure for both mining operations and high-desert survival.