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1885 Map of San Rafael

Name: 1885 Topographic Map of San Rafael
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1921
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1921

About this map

The San Rafael Swell dominates this late-nineteenth-century reconnaissance, revealing a topography defined by immense geological upheavals and river erosion. To the south, the massive profile of the Henry Mountains rises toward Mt. Ellen, marking the high point of the region. The landscape is carved by the Green River as it winds through Labyrinth Canon, joined by the San Rafael River which cuts through the San Rafael Valley.

Settlement is sparse in this era, limited to small outposts like Blake and Tidwell along the northern edge of the quadrangle. This map captures the territory before modern irrigation or major infrastructure, showing the natural drainages of Barrier Creek and Lewis Creek in their original state. The administrative lines for Emery, Piute, and Garfield counties overlay a terrain where the Orange Cliffs served as formidable natural barriers for early travelers.