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1954 Map of Silver City

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Silver City
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1991
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1991

About this map

Mining operations and high-desert transportation corridors dominate this mid-century survey of the Arizona-New Mexico borderlands. The region's industrial backbone is clearly visible through the concentration of heavy mineral extraction sites like the Chino Mine, Empire Zinc Mine, and the holdings of the Banner Mining Company. These enterprises are linked by the Southern Pacific RR and the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe RR, which navigate the terrain between the Peloncillo Mountains and the Burro Mountains.

Agricultural and residential life clusters in the Gila River Valley, where towns such as Safford and Thatcher sit against the backdrop of the Pinaleno Mountains. To the south, the expansive Willcox Playa and Sulphur Springs Valley illustrate the arid hydrology of the era. The map also delineates the extensive boundaries of the Coronado National Forest and Gila National Forest, marking the transition from industrial copper and zinc landscapes to protected wilderness.