1940 Map of Elgin

About this map

Old Ft. Crittenden and the nearby site of Crittenden anchor this southern Arizona landscape where the high desert meets the northern reaches of the Coronado National Forest. This 1940 edition reflects a ranching economy established along the Southern Pacific rail line, centered on the settlement of Elgin and the Sonoita P.O. The map provides an intricate look at early family landholdings, documenting numerous namesake properties such as Gardner's Ranch, the Ashburn Ranch, and the Turner-Bower Ranch. Drainage systems like Sonoita Creek and Harshaw Creek carve through the rugged Canelo Hills, while the northern boundary of the Babocomari grant defines the local geography. Significant for genealogists, the map preserves the exact locations of many homesteads including Mc Cartys Ranch and the Rodgers Ranch, illustrating the sparse but vital network of water sources like Apache Spring and Monkey Spring that sustained these desert outposts.