1973 Map of Payson South

About this map

Payson serves as the hub of this mid-1970s landscape, positioned within the Tonto National Forest and bordered by an Indian Reservation. The map captures a moment of growth for the community, showing the Shopping Center, Hospital, and schools such as Julia Randall Sch alongside the Payson Country Club. The historical layers of Gila County are visible in the Ft McDonald (Ruins) and the Payson Cem, while the industrial past is marked by numerous mineral claims. A cluster of operations including the Golden Wonder Mine, Pay Rock Mine, and Silver King Mine dot the terrain to the west. The physical geography is defined by a complex network of drainages like American Gulch and Stewart Creek, leading into the prominent Stewart Pocket and the heights of Monument Peak. This survey provides a clear view of the area's transition from a mining and ranching frontier to a more established high-country settlement.