Loading map...

1885 Map of Sevier Desert

Name: 1885 Topographic Map of Sevier Desert
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1911
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1911

About this map

Mining settlements and early frontier outposts define this 1880s survey of the arid basin across Juab and Millard counties. The Tintic Mountains in the northeast are particularly dense with activity, showing the proximity of Silver City, Diamond City, and Tintic, which served as the hub for one of the state's most productive mining districts. The survival of these communities relied on the thin threads of water provided by Cherry Creek and Cataract Creek.

Further south, the landscape is dominated by the wide expanse of the Sevier Desert, where the Sevier River flows toward the agricultural settlement at Deseret. This river valley and the path of the Central Pacific Railroad through Leamington were the primary lifelines for transport and irrigation. The survey also captures isolated landmarks like Pavant Butte and Marmaduke Spring, providing a record of the difficult terrain encountered by the original Wheeler and Powell surveys.