1952 Map of Pine Valley

About this map

The Cortez Mountains and Pinon Range frame this high-desert landscape in the early 1950s, where water sources dictate the placement of early Great Basin homesteads. A series of family-held operations, including the Tomera Ranch, Rand Ranch, and Hay Ranch, are situated along the perennial drainage of Pine Creek. The map records a critical transition in regional infrastructure, noting a Dismantled Railroad that once serviced this corridor, while the Indian Campground near Lee Flat indicates long-standing seasonal use of the basin. Thermal activity is evident at Hot Springs and Hot Creek, while higher elevations feature prominent landmarks such as Coffin Mtn and the complex terrain of Smith Creek Basin. This survey documents a ranching economy still reliant on isolated springs and canyons before modern development altered the remote character of the Elko and Eureka county line.