1954 Map of Sonoyta

About this map

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument dominates the north-central portion of this mid-century survey, illustrating the arid borderlands where the United States and Mexico meet. The landscape is defined by volcanic features, including the Lava fields and craters of Cerro Pinacate to the west, and the drainage of the Río Sonoyta. Settlement patterns reveal a mix of cross-border hubs like Sonoyta and Lukeville alongside numerous Indigenous communities within the Papago Indian Reservation, such as Ali Ak Chin and Chukut Kuk. A critical detail for the era is Cervantls Well, noted specifically for its depth and water quality in a region where such resources were scarce. The map also traces the coastal reach of the Gulf of California at Punta Peñasco, where the Ferro Carriles Nacionales de México railroad terminates at the sea.