1962 Map of Montezuma Creek

About this map

The Aneth Oil Field dominates the southeastern corner of this 1960s landscape, reflecting an era of industrial expansion along the northern banks of the San Juan River. This territory is defined by the meeting of the Ute Indian Reservation and the Navajo Indian Reservation, with the San Juan River and several distinct mesas such as White Mesa and McCracken Mesa carving through the high desert. The map reveals a specialized infrastructure supporting the petroleum industry, including the Aneth Airstrip, a Natural Gas Plant, and a Pumping Sta. Away from the river, the terrain rises into the broad expanses of Big Bench and Cowboy Pasture, while the settlement at Fiddlers Green and the Montezuma Creek Sch provide evidence of the area's local community and social services during this period of development.