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1953 Map of Richfield

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Richfield
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1974
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1974

About this map

Sevier Lake and the arid expanse of the Sevier Desert dominate the northern reaches of this mid-century survey, while the eastern edge is defined by the high peaks of the Tushar Mountains and the Pavant Range. The agricultural and mining corridor along the Sevier River and U.S. 89 connects established settlements like Richfield and Elsinore to the volcanic landscapes of Tabernacle Hill. Industrial signatures of the era are evident in the Beaver Power Plant No 1 and scattered mining operations including the Cactus Mine and Golden Reef Mine.

Transport networks are anchored by the Union Pacific railroad, which cuts through the desert toward Milford and Lund. To the west, the landscape transitions into the remote basins of Wah Wah Valley and the Needle Range, where features like the Wah Wah Valley Hardpan highlight the region's internal drainage. This map captures a period of established irrigation projects, evidenced by Piute Reservoir and Otter Creek Reservoir, vital for the ranching and farming communities situated between the mountain forests and the basin floor.