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1958 Map of Twelvemile Well

Name: 1958 Topographic Map of Twelvemile Well
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1960
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1960

About this map

The Continental Divide winds through this arid expanse of Sweetwater County, marking a high water-parting line above a landscape defined by seasonal washes and significant geological depressions. In the late 1950s, this area was characterized by the sprawling Alkali Basin and fields of shifting Sand Dunes, punctuated by the vital Twelvemile Well. This artesian source served as a critical landmark for those navigating the high plains between the Black Rock Flat and Tenmile Flat.

Transport through the region relied on the established Rigby Road and a network of jeep trails that followed the natural contours of the land. Water drainage patterns are clearly etched into the terrain via Black Rock Creek, Twelvemile Gulch, and Dugout Draw. The survey captures the remote character of the Missouri River Basin development area, where survival and movement were dictated by the location of springs and the traversable breaks in the Rim.