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1936 Map of Payson

Name: 1936 Topographic Map of Payson
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

Payson serves as the central hub for this mid-1930s survey of the Mogollon Rim country, revealing a landscape defined by cattle ranching and hard-rock mining. The map documents an extensive network of family-held operations like the Taylor Ranch and Seventy Six Ranch, alongside several scattered cabins such as Larsen Cabin and Chilson Cabin. The era's industrial activity is prominent through numerous workings including the Silver King Mine and the Single Standard Mine, many situated along the drainages of Pine Creek and the Verde River.

Cultural history is visible in the presence of Old Fort McDonald and multiple sites marked as Indian Ruins, including The Box Indian Ruins. Infrastructure of the time is captured at the Rye Creek Store and the Felton Service Sta, which served travelers on the emerging Bush Highway. The terrain transitions from the high peaks of the Mazatzal Mountains to the broad basin of Round Valley, providing a detailed record of land use before modern expansion.