1971 Map of Decoy

About this map

Nevada Northern and Spruce Shafter rail lines converge in this arid portion of Elko County, marking a landscape defined by transportation and ranching infrastructure in the early 1970s. The small settlement of Decoy sits near the rail junction, providing a human anchor within the expansive Goshute Valley. The terrain is sparsely punctuated by essential water sources like the Spring found in the eastern section of the quadrangle. Long stretches of fence and primitive jeep trails crisscross the valley floor, suggesting a remote environment where movement is dictated by the historical paths of the railroad and the requirements of open-range land management. This survey captures the utilitarian layout of the high desert before modern developments altered the character of these Great Basin transit corridors.