1948 Map of Iron Springs

About this map

The Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad corridor defines the development of this Yavapai County landscape, connecting the high-elevation settlement of Iron Springs with the valley floor at Skull Valley. This 1948 survey, compiled from 1946 aerial photography, documents a transition from the mining era at the Boston Arizona Mine toward a ranching and recreational economy. Large landholdings like Rancho Moana, American Ranch, and Bar U Bar Ranch are interspersed with Prescott National Forest lands, where the Tonto Springs Ranger Sta and Granite Basin Recreation Area serve the public. Notable landmarks include the prominent Thumb Butte, an Air Strip near the railroad, and a network of named springs like Contreras Spr and Baker Spr that supported the area's many livestock operations.