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1967 Map of Nelson

Name: 1967 Topographic Map of Nelson
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

The settlement of Nelson serves as a focal point in this high-desert landscape during the late 1960s, situated along the critical transit corridor of the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad. This map reveals the intersection of infrastructure and indigenous lands, with a significant portion of the northern terrain falling within the Hualapai Indian Reservation. The industrial and logistics-based nature of the area is evident in the presence of a Mine and several Borrow Pits clustered near the rail line and the canyon floor.

Water management is central to life in this arid environment, marked by features such as Bull Pasture Tank, Limestone Tank, and Shipley Well. The rugged topography is defined by the winding course of Yampai Canyon and Nelson Canyon, which dictate the path of the railroad and the seasonal Truxton Wash. For the local historian, the inclusion of a Cem near the tracks and the Grand Canyon Caverns Airport provides a record of both early community life and the growing importance of regional aviation.