1959 Map of Monkeys Head

About this map

Bill Williams River carves through a landscape of sharp ridges and desert washes along the border of Mohave and Yuma counties during the late 1950s. The topography is dominated by the Buckskin Mountains and the Aubrey Hills, which overlook the eastern reaches of Havasu Lake. This survey captures the region just as the Havasu Lake National Wildlife Refuge was establishing its presence across the riparian corridor and shoreline. Remote outposts like the Kohen Ranch and Ramon Esquerra Ranch mark the few signs of permanent human habitation in this arid terrain, with the latter featuring a small Cem nearby. Evidence of desert exploration and mining is visible at the Paloma Prospect, while navigation through the backcountry relied on a network of Jeep Trails connecting various water sources like Havasu Spring and Goat Spring.