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1949 Map of Parker

Name: 1949 Topographic Map of Parker
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1966
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1966

About this map

The Colorado River winds through this 1940s landscape, serving as the definitive border between California and Arizona while anchoring the life of the Colorado River Indian Reservation. Centered on the town of Parker, the map reveals a community structured around the Indian Agency and social institutions like the Mojave Indian Ch and Colorado River Day Sch. To the west, the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad crosses the Vidal Valley, connecting the settlement of Vidal to the river crossing near Earp.

The arid terrain surrounding the river valley is marked by industrial and cultural landmarks, from the Blue Cloud Mine and Riverview Mine in the northern uplands to the Cremation Ground near the river bank. Hydrological features such as Moovalya Lake, the Old River Channel, and Alligator Slough illustrate the complex desert riparian environment before modern development further altered the flow. This survey documents the intersection of indigenous lands, mining interests, and the vital rail-and-river corridor at mid-century.