1970 Map of Red Desert NW

About this map

The Continental Divide passes through this desolate stretch of Sweetwater County, marking a high point in the arid terrain of the Red Desert Basin (Depression). In the early 1970s, the landscape was defined by industrial infrastructure and transit corridors cutting through the sagebrush. The Union Pacific railroad serves as the primary southern artery, flanked by modern utilities including a Pipeline and multiple Pipelines that follow the rail grade. This era of land use is characterized by resource exploration, evidenced by scattered Wells and a Drill Hole in the central basin. Remote access is provided by the Red Desert Road and various unnamed tracks, while natural drainage like Red Desert Wash provides the only significant break in the topography. The map illustrates a moment when the region's historical role as a transit corridor evolved to support energy and material transport.