1955 Map of St. Joseph 2 NW

About this map

The Little Colorado River winds through this high desert terrain in Navajo County during the mid-1950s, a period when the regional landscape was defined by the intersection of vital transit routes and sparse ranching infrastructure. The Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad serves as the primary East-West artery, paralleling the river and passing through the small settlement of Manila. This survey reveals a landscape adapted for livestock, marked by numerous water features such as McDonald Spring and several strategically placed Stock Tanks. Prominent landforms like Apache Butte and Hugo Meadow provide navigational landmarks in a territory where drainage systems like Manila Wash and McDonald Canyon dictate the movement of both water and travelers through the arid plains.