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1954 Map of Heaton Knolls NW

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Heaton Knolls NW
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1956
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1956

About this map

Yellowstone Mesa and the expansive Upper Clay Hole Valley dominate this mid-century landscape in Mohave County. The map reveals an arid region where water management was critical for cattle ranching and survival, evidenced by the strategic placement of Yellowstone Spring and several remote water tanks labeled simply as Res. Early travel through the desert is traced by a Jeep Trail that cuts across the Wild Band Pockets, a name suggesting the historical presence of wild horse herds in these natural catchments.

To the south, Little Hurricane Ridge rises above the flats, providing a natural barrier between distinct drainage basins like Yellowstone Wash and Wild Band Wash. Local landmarks such as Bundy Ponds and Sims Reservoir serve as vital markers for genealogy researchers and historians tracing the land use patterns of Arizona ranching families in the early 1950s. The presence of several survey stations, including Midway VABM, highlights the meticulous work required to map this remote terrain before modern development.