1959 Map of Cross Roads

About this map

The Colorado River serves as the focal point for this 1950s study of the borderlands between California and Arizona, carving through the gap between the Whipple Mountains and the Buckskin Mountains. Small riverside settlements like Cross Roads and Empire sit along the western bank, while Cienega Springs occupies a site just across the water. The landscape is heavily marked by early mining activity, particularly in the eastern heights where names like Billy Mack Mine, Gray Eagle Mine, and Carnation Mine indicate a history of mineral extraction. Large alluvial features such as Empire Flat and drainage systems like Osborne Wash and Bowmans Wash define the local topography. This map also preserves the inland reach of the Colorado River Indian Reservation Boundary, illustrating the intersection of natural geography, commercial enterprise, and administrative land divisions in the mid-20th century.