1972 Map of Des Moines

About this map

Des Moines sits at the southern edge of this Union County landscape, serving as a hub where the Colorado and Southern railroad cuts across the volcanic high plains. The topography is defined by dramatic relief, ranging from the volcanic mass of Sierra Grande in the southwest to the deeply etched drainage systems of Briggs Canyon and Fowler Canyon to the north. These canyons carve into the Purvine Mesa, creating a rugged environment for livestock and dryland ranching.