Loading map...

1959 Map of Tortolita Mts

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Tortolita Mts
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1974
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1974

About this map

Tortolita Mountains and the Suizo Mountains dominate this arid landscape, which in the late 1950s was characterized by a network of cattle ranches and mining operations. Isolated homesteads such as Cross Triangle Ranch, Forman Ranch, and Palo Verde Ranch are connected by a series of jeep trails and the Red Rock Road, illustrating the sparse settlement patterns of the Pinal and Pima county borderlands.

Resource extraction and water management are central themes on the sheet, evidenced by numerous infrastructure markers. The presence of the Big Mine, Mines Well, and scattered Prospects indicate active mineral exploration, while a prominent Pipeline and power line cut through the terrain. A complex system of ephemeral drainages, including Durham Wash, Coronado Wash, and Wild Burro Canyon, define the topography, supported by man-made catchments like Blue Ribbon Tank and Green Tank to sustain life in this desert environment.