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1892 Map of Fort Defiance

Name: 1892 Topographic Map of Fort Defiance
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1933
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1933

About this map

Fort Defiance stands as the primary hub of activity in this high-desert territory, situated near the northeastern corner of the map. The landscape is defined by its water sources and high elevations, from the broad Salahkai Mesa to the drainage of Nazlini Creek. Human activity is concentrated along the southern corridor where the Atlantic and Pacific RR follows the Puerco River, connecting small settlements and rail stops like Allantown, Sanders, and Billings.

A marked Navajo Indian Res. Line bisects the northern half of the sheet, while several vital watering points such as Navajo Springs, Tanners Spring, and Jacobs Well illustrate the importance of reliable water in the 1880s ranching and travel economy. The topography is meticulously captured by E.M. Douglas, showing the transition from the high Chinle Valley to the dramatic heights of Zilditloi Mt and Eagle Crag.