1958 Map of Cottonwood Spring

About this map

Cactus City sits at the northern edge of this arid landscape, where the Colorado River Aqueduct and a major pipeline trace the basin floor through Shavers Valley. To the north, the Cottonwood Mountains rise sharply, hiding isolated water sources like Cottonwood Spring and the Mastodon Mine. This mid-century survey illustrates the vital role of water management in the desert, as the Coachella Canal winds toward the southern agricultural areas near the Salton Sea. The shoreline of the sea is home to recreational developments like Desert Beach and Mortmar, reflecting the era's growth of tourism and infrastructure. Industrial and transport corridors are well-defined, including the Southern Pacific railroad and early highway routes. Along the foothills of the Orocopia Mountains, features like The Grotto and Hidden Spring indicate the complex drainage patterns of the Box Canyon Wash system.