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1963 Map of Metzel Ranch

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Metzel Ranch
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

The Ruby River corridor in Madison County defines this landscape, where the Ruby River Reservoir meets a network of ranching homesteads and historic irrigation works. This 1963 survey captures a specific era of high-country agriculture, documenting family landmarks such as the Metzel Ranch, Maloney Ranch, and several established homesites like the Burdick Place and Ball Place. The presence of the Upper Ruby Cem near Jack Creek offers a touchstone for genealogists tracing the early settlers of this valley.

Water management is central to the terrain, evidenced by the Pioneer Ditch, Metzel West Side Ditch, and Calloway Ditch carving through the basins. Significant natural and cultural landmarks including the Buffalo Jumps and the geothermal Puller Hot Springs suggest a deep history of human activity preceding the ranching era. From the high elevations of Table Mountain to the depths of Fossil Basin, the map illustrates a complex relationship between the arid ridges and the life-sustaining river valley.