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1959 Map of Tortolita Mts

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Tortolita Mts
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1960
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1960

About this map

Cross Triangle Ranch and a network of family-held properties define this arid landscape at the border of Pinal and Pima Counties. The terrain is marked by the prominence of the Tortolita Mountains and Owl Head Buttes, which channeled early settlement into the surrounding valleys. Ranching life is evident through numerous named holdings such as Forman Ranch, Goodman Ranch, and Barriles Ranch, all reliant on the system of wells and windmills like Sampson Well and Riddle Windmill that punctuated the desert floor.

Industrial activity appears in the form of multiple Shafts, a Quarry, and a significant pipeline corridor, while the presence of a Boy Scout Camp suggests the area's recreational use. Complex drainage patterns are documented through the winding Durham Wash and Guild Wash, which dominate the lowlands. The map also traces a series of jeep trails and the Power Line, reflecting the mid-century infrastructure supporting these isolated cattle operations.