1950 Map of Vanar

About this map

The San Simon Valley defines this arid borderland landscape where the high desert of Arizona meets New Mexico. This mid-century survey illustrates a rugged ranching and mining environment, centered on the Southern Pacific railroad corridor. Near the tracks, the small settlements of Vanar and Steins sit amidst a network of wells and pipelines crucial for sustaining life in the basin. The eastern edge of the map, particularly near Steins Mtn, reveals a history of extraction with the Granite Quarry and the Mineral Mountain Mine. To the south, the terrain rises sharply into the Coronado National Forest, where prominent landmarks like San Simon Head and Blue Mtn overlook a series of deep drainages including Brushy Canyon and Keating Creek. The presence of the San Simon Cienega and Cienega Ranch highlights the importance of rare water sources and early landing strips in this remote interstate region.