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1986 Map of Smith Mesa

Name: 1986 Topographic Map of Smith Mesa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1986
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1986

About this map

Prescott National Forest dominates the high-altitude landscape of central Arizona in this mid-1980s topographical study. The area is defined by the massive Smith Mesa and its network of canyons, which provided critical water resources for the sparse ranching and forestry operations of the era. The settlement of Fair Oaks sits on the eastern edge of the quadrangle, serving as a rare point of human habitation amidst a geography of springs and man-made livestock tanks.

Evidence of historical land use is seen in naming conventions like Dillon Field and Anderson Field, likely reflecting early families or leaseholders. Water management is the primary narrative of this terrain, with dozens of named features such as Cottonwood Springs, Horse Wash Springs, and Willow Spring interspersed with ranching infrastructure like Horseshoe Tank and Jenkins Trap Tank. The map tracks the sharp elevation changes of the Sycamore Rim and the South Benches, providing a record of the wilderness just before the growth of nearby Yavapai County hubs intensified.