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1970 Map of Parker SE

Name: 1970 Topographic Map of Parker SE
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

The Colorado River Indian Reservation dominates this 1970s landscape, illustrating a highly organized agricultural and irrigation system within the Parker Valley. The map reveals a precise grid of roads and water management features, including the Main Canal and numerous laterals like Lateral 19-R and Lateral 30, which transformed the desert floor into productive land. Along the western edge, the Colorado River serves as the state boundary between Arizona and California, carving past Deer Island.

A notable cultural landmark is the Cremation Ground (Cem) located near Laffoon Ave, reflecting the local heritage of the reservation. To the east, the terrain shifts abruptly from the flat, irrigated fields to the arid Sand Dunes and the base of Mesquite Mountain. The transit infrastructure of the era is anchored by the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad, which runs parallel to the mountains, while Bouse Wash cuts through the desert toward the valley floor.