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1922 Map of McDonald

Name: 1922 Topographic Map of McDonald
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1928
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1928

About this map

The San Bernardino Valley stretches across this 1920s tactical map, marking a rugged frontier where the Arizona and New Mexico border meets the United States Mexico Boundary Line. This arid cattle country is defined by its sparse water sources and sprawling land grants, most notably the San Bernardino Grant in the southwest. A network of family-operated holdings, including the various McDonald Ranch properties and Hazelwood Ranch, underscores the ranching economy of the era. Settlement is concentrated around essential resources, evidenced by the Cottonwood Creek School and a lonely Cemetery near the creek.

Water management is the critical infrastructure here, documented through numerous named wells and springs like the evocatively named Spring of Contention. Along the eastern edge, the topography rises sharply into the Coronado National Forest, where peaks like Bunk Robinson Pk overlook the Guadalupe Canyon. The map records a moment before major modern development, showing early routes like the trail To Slaughters Ranch and the survival of specialized operations like the Raner Goat Ranch.