1954 Map of Factory Butte

About this map

Factory Butte dominates the center of this high-desert landscape in Wayne County, which was surveyed during a period of active mineral exploration in the mid-1950s. The presence of the Factory Butte Coal Mine near Coal Mine Wash and the cooperation of the Atomic Energy Commission in the map's production suggest the industrial and strategic importance of the region during the Cold War era. The Fremont River meanders across the southern half of the sheet, where the settlement of Giles once sat as a pocket of habitation amidst the massive geological formations of the Blue Hills and the North Caineville Mesa. Travel through the area is marked by the rugged Caineville Trail and various jeep trails, highlighting the challenges of traversing the Caineville Reef and the expansive Factory Bench. Drainage systems like Muddy River and Salt Wash define the erosional patterns of the terrain, while landmarks such as Steamboat Point and White Point provide critical orientation points in this sparse, arid environment.