1973 Map of McCleary Wells

About this map

McCleary Well No 1 and McCleary Well No 2 serve as the primary human identifiers in this arid section of Elko County, Nevada. The landscape is defined by the drainage patterns of Wolf Creek and Milligan Creek, which carve through the high desert terrain. Evidence of ranching and land management in the early 1970s is visible through the presence of a Corral and a network of unimproved routes, including a prominent Jeep Trail that traverses the eastern slopes. This survey captures a moment in the post-war American West where remote water sources like these wells were essential infrastructure for local livestock operations. Aside from a few benchmark locations, the map shows an expansive, sparsely populated area characterized by high plateaus and a broad valley floor labeled simply as the Flat.