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2012 Map of Riverside

Name: 2012 Topographic Map of Riverside
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2012
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2012

About this map

The Virgin River carves a fertile path through this section of the Mojave Desert, where several low-lying river flats or "bottoms" supported local agricultural efforts. These include Latham Bottom, Cook Bottom, and Arnold Bottom, which provided essential arable land in a landscape otherwise defined by the arid slopes of Bunkerville Ridge. The small community of Riverside serves as the focal point for several family-named ranching operations that dot the western edge of the river valley.

Water sources are the defining feature of the local geography, with Nickel Creek drainage meeting the river near a series of springs. Researchers can trace the layout of legacy landholdings such as Foster Ranch, David Buddy Ranch, and the Frank Taylor Ranch. To the south, Juanita Springs Ranch sits near its namesake Juanita Springs, illustrating the vital connection between these rare water sources and early settlement patterns.