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1948 Map of O'Donnell Canyon

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of O'Donnell Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1953
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1953

About this map

High-altitude ranching and forest management dominate this landscape in the southeastern corner of Arizona, where the Canelo Hills transition into the Coronado National Forest. This 1948 survey reveals a network of family-held cattle operations and isolated outposts, centered around the small settlement of Canelo and the nearby Canelo Sch. The presence of the Canelo Ranger Station and several water management features, such as Government Tank, underscore the vital role of federal land oversight in this arid environment.

Genealogists will find a wealth of family names tied to the terrain, including McCarty Ranch, Houston Ranch, and Knipe Ranch. The rugged geography is defined by steep drainage systems like O'Donnell Canyon and Post Canyon, which carve through the land between the forest boundary and the historic San Ignacio Del Babocomari land grant. Local history is further preserved at sites like Black Oak Cem, marking the early 20th-century community's footprint before the area became more sparsely populated.