1959 Map of Salton Sea

About this map

The Colorado River and the Salton Sea anchor this desert landscape, where massive irrigation projects like the Coachella Canal and East Highline Canal fueled agricultural development in the Imperial and Palo Verde valleys. The mid-century map captures a region deeply defined by its natural resources and military strategic value. Industrial sites like the Eagle Mountain Mine and the Iron Chief Mine illustrate the scale of extraction in the Chuckwalla Mountains, while vast areas are dedicated to federal use, including the Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range and the Yuma Proving Ground. Small transit hubs like Desert Center and Chiriaco Summit punctuate the arid basins, serving as critical stops for travelers and miners alike between the lush riverbanks of Blythe and the growing shores of Salton Sea State Park.