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1959 Map of Silver Bell Peak

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Silver Bell Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

Silver Bell Mine and its extensive Tailings Pond dominate the western slopes of the Silver Bell Mountains, marking a period of intense industrial activity in Pima County during the late 1950s. The landscape is a study in the intersection of desert ranching and heavy industry, where the Papago Indian Reservation boundary meets the rugged terrain of the Waterman Mountains and the Roskruge Mountains.

In the lowlands, the agricultural and utility infrastructure of the Avra Valley Road corridor is evident, featuring the Western Avra Cotton Gin and the Tucson Compressor Sta. Military aviation history is also preserved through the inclusion of Marana Auxiliary Airfield No 4 and Marana Auxiliary Airfield No 5. Along the Southern Pacific RR and the Santa Cruz River, small hubs like Marana and Naviska serve as connection points for the region's rail-and-river economy.