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1886 Map of Holbrook

Name: 1886 Topographic Map of Holbrook
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1886
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1886

About this map

The Little Colorado River valley serves as the primary corridor for settlement and transit in this 1880s survey. Along the northern edge, the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad connects isolated outposts like Saint Joseph and Holbrook, while a network of wagon roads extends south into the high plateaus. These routes lead to a cluster of early pioneer communities including Snowflake, Taylor, and Woodruff, established along the perennial waters of Silver Creek.

The landscape transitions from the volcanic heights of Chevlon Butte and the deep incisions of Clear Creek in the west to the dense canyons of the Mogollon Rim area in the south. Small, remote settlements such as Heber, Wilford, and Showlow represent the furthest reaches of ranching and agriculture during this territorial period. The map meticulously documents crucial water sources in an arid land, from Walnut Spring to the intermittent drainage of Cottonwood Wash, illustrating the vital connection between hydrology and the survival of frontier towns.