1972 Map of Sunnyside

About this map

The industrial coal-mining landscape of eastern Utah is sharply defined by the interconnected communities of East Carbon City, Sunnyside, and Dragerton. This 1970s record showcases the complex infrastructure of a high-desert mining district, where the Denver and Rio Grande Western and Carbon County Railway serve a series of operations, including the prominent Coke Ovens and several Mines tucked into the canyons. The geography is dominated by the massive West Ridge and the Clark Valley, with water management clearly prioritized through the Grassy Trail Reservoir and various Springs. The social fabric of these company towns is visible through local institutions like East Carbon High School and the Petersen School, while the spatial layout of Columbia further south illustrates the linear development common in these narrow canyon corridors.