1958 Map of Squaretop Hills

About this map

The Sulphur Spring valley of Cochise County unfolds across this topographic study, revealing a landscape defined by cattle ranching and early irrigation efforts in the high desert. Settlement patterns are sparse, anchored by family operations like Gears Ranch, Stanford, and Moore Ranch, while the Ash Creek School serves as a central social landmark for the dispersed rural population. The topography is dominated by the Squaretop Hills and the northern reaches of the Swisshelm Mountains, providing a dramatic backdrop to the drainage systems of Turkey Creek and Ash Creek. Evidence of earlier transport and prospecting remains visible through the Old Railroad Grade in the southwest and scattered Prospect and Shaft markings. The presence of the Light (Site) and its corresponding Light Cemetery suggests a community in transition, preserving the names of early settlers in an arid environment increasingly focused on orchards like Grizzles Orchard.