1970 Map of Parker SW

About this map

The Colorado River serves as the central artery for this borderland where California meets Arizona, defining the irrigation and transport patterns of the early 1970s. On the California side, the Riverside Mountains and Vidal Valley give way to recreation and water management at Lost Lake Resort and Lost Lake. The landscape is a stark contrast between the arid desert to the west and the highly organized agricultural grid of Parker Valley to the east. This eastern section is defined by a complex network of water infrastructure, including the Little Drain, East Drain, and a substantial Canal system supported by a Diversion Dam. Transportation follows this geographic split, with the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad and Old Parker Road navigating the western hills, while local thoroughfares like Indian School Road serve the developed valley floor and the Colorado River Day School.