Loading map...

1979 Map of Palo Alto Ranch

Name: 1979 Topographic Map of Palo Alto Ranch
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1979
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1979

About this map

The Coyote Mountains dominate the northwestern corner of this Pima County landscape, giving way to a complex network of seasonal drainages and ranching improvements. Cattle ranching infrastructure defines the desert floor, with scattered landmarks such as Anvil Ranch and the Palo Alto Ranch serving as primary centers of activity. Water management is the defining human footprint here, evidenced by the numerous tanks and wells necessary for survival in the arid environment.

Ephemeral watercourses like Altar Wash, Alambre Wash, and Fresnal Wash carve through the terrain, while man-made features like Lievres Tank, Ironwood Tank, and Soldier Well mark critical resources. Navigating this area relied heavily on the network of Jeep Trails that connect these remote outposts. A small Cem near the Palo Alto Ranch provides a quiet genealogical link to the families who worked this land in the late 1970s.