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1948 Map of Mammoth

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Mammoth
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

Mining operations and desert drainage patterns define this landscape at the edge of the Black Hills during the mid-twentieth century. The settlement of Mammoth sits along the San Pedro River, served by Arizona 77 and characterized by its transition from a riverside community to a hub of industrial activity. To the west, the community of Tiger is surrounded by a dense concentration of mineral claims, including the Mammoth Mine, Mohawk Mine, and Ford Mine. These workings, along with the San Manuel & Copper Mine, illustrate the intensive copper and gold extraction that shaped the local economy and topography, evidenced by the large Tailings Pond and Smelter Wash nearby.

The terrain is a complex network of ephemeral watercourses like Tucson Wash and Cottonwood Wash that cut through the arid hills toward the river valley. Cultural landmarks of the era are visible in the 1972 revisions, such as the Drive-in Theater near the river and the Landing Field to the south. From the heights of Signal Peak down to the family Cemeteries near the townsite, the map captures the intersection of natural resource extraction and rural Arizona life before further modern expansion.