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1985 Map of Needles

Name: 1985 Topographic Map of Needles
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

The Colorado River serves as the central artery for this mid-1980s landscape, weaving between the high peaks of the Sacramento Mountains and the Black Mountains. The settlement at Needles stands as a primary desert hub, where the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad and Interstate 40 converge near the Fort Mojave Indian Reservation. Further south, the river expands into Lake Havasu, supporting the growing footprint of Lake Havasu City and the protected lands of the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge.

Industry and transport dominate the arid valleys, with the Automotive Proving Ground located in the Sacramento Valley and several historic mining sites like the Gold Dome Mine and Sunrise Mine tucked into the mountain ranges. Small rail-side locations such as Java, Bannock, and Goffs trace the path of the old U S 66, reflecting the era's transition from historic highway routes to modern interstate travel across the Chemehuevi Indian Reservation.