Loading map...

1948 Map of Hurley East

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Hurley East
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1976
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1976

About this map

The town of Hurley occupies the western edge of this territory, where early mining and industrial infrastructure meet the arid landscape of Grant County. Aerial photography from 1945 reveals a complex of large evaporation ponds and industrial structures that dominate the immediate surroundings of the settlement, reflecting the area's mid-century economic focus. Moving eastward, the terrain transitions into a rugged drainage network defined by Whitewater Creek and the long, winding Lambright Draw.

Mineral exploration is evident through markers like the Prospect site located in the central hills, a common sight for surveyors during this post-war period. The northeastern corner of the map features more pronounced elevation changes around Rustler Canyon and Mallo Canyon. This survey captures a moment when the regional economy was heavily tied to the massive open-pit operations and processing facilities just beyond these borders, showing the literal footprint of that industry on the local hydrology and land use.