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1952 Map of Henderson

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of Henderson
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1956
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1956

About this map

Industrial expansion in the Mojave Desert defines the landscape south of Lake Mead in the early 1950s. The settlement of Henderson is anchored by the massive Manganese Plant and sprawling Tailings Ponds, reflecting the town's wartime origins and postwar industrial role. Workforce housing is clustered nearby at Carver Park and Victory Village, connected by the Union Pacific rail lines that provided the essential link to global markets.

Beyond the industrial core, the map reveals a transition toward recreation and mining. The desert floor is dotted with mineral operations like the Three Kids Mine and White Eagle Mine, while the shoreline of Las Vegas Bay begins to show early tourist infrastructure at Lake Mead Lodge and the Yacht Harbor. Landmarks such as Lava Butte and Frenchman Mtn rise above the shifting sands and gypsum washes, marking the geology of the Lake Mead National Recreational Area.