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1905 Map of Nogales

Name: 1905 Topographic Map of Nogales
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1947
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1947

About this map

The United States-Mexico border defines the character of this 1905 landscape, where high-desert ranching and hard-rock mining shaped the settlement patterns of Santa Cruz County. The Southern Pacific RR (Nogales Branch) follows the Santa Cruz River valley through Calabasas, providing the vital link for moving ore and cattle north from Nogales. To the east, the Patagonia Mountains are pocketed with significant mining operations, including the historic Mowry Mine, the Holland Mine, and the Jarillas Mine.

Family ranching is the dominant land use outside the mineral districts, evidenced by numerous named holdings like Cameron's Ranch, Estrada's Ranch, and Sheehy's Ranch. The remote border outpost of Lochiel serves the San Rafael valley, while small mining camps like Duquesne and Washington cluster near American Pk. The map preserves the geography of the Coronado National Forest and the large private land grants of San Jose de Sonoita and Buena Vista before mid-century modernization.