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1942 Map of Payson

Name: 1942 Topographic Map of Payson
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1942
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1942

About this map

Payson sits at the northern end of this mid-1930s survey, surrounded by a landscape defined by cattle ranching and deep-mountain prospecting. The map records a dense concentration of mining operations east of town, including the Silver King Mine, Wonder Mine, and Pay Rock Mine, along with the industrial footprint of Vans Mill. To the south, the Bush Highway winds through the Tonto National Forest, passing isolated outposts like the Rye Creek Store and family-named landmarks such as the Mc Cormack Ranch and Taylor Ranch.

Evidence of much earlier habitation is prominent, with numerous Indian Ruins marked near the Verde River and Tonto Creek. The rugged interior is dotted with remote shelters like Larsen Cabin and Chilson Cabin, reflecting the era's reliance on mountain trails and seasonal camps. This survey captures a specific moment when the high desert economy transitioned between its frontier mining roots and the developing infrastructure of the mid-20th century.