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1958 Map of Crescent Junction

Name: 1958 Topographic Map of Crescent Junction
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1960
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1960

About this map

Crescent Junction serves as the focal point for this 1950s survey of the high desert of Grand County, situated at the base of the massive Book Cliffs. The landscape is a study in mid-century resource extraction and arid-land management, characterized by a network of test wells, oil wells, and scattered livestock watering holes like the Tenmile Wash Reservoir and Rock Corral Reservoir. The presence of Valley City (Site) marks the location of a former settlement, providing a waypoint for local historians tracking the shifting habitation patterns of the region.

Transportation is dominated by the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad, which skirts the northern edge of Crescent Flat near the small rail stops of Floy and Brendel. This corridor follows the natural contours below the Trough Spring Ridge, connecting the isolated Hatch Ranch to the broader regional economy. From the depths of Tenmile Canyon to the wide expanse of Salt Valley, the map details a terrain crisscrossed by jeep trails, reflecting the era's increased mobility for geological exploration and ranching.