1892 Map of Verde

About this map

Fort Verde serves as a central hub on this late 19th-century landscape, positioned along the Verde River as a point of contact between military presence and early settlements like Cornville and Payson. The geography is defined by the sharp descent from the Mogollon Mesa into the rugged canyon systems of the Diablo Canyon and Deadmans Canyon. The survey captures the region’s early infrastructure, including The Tunnel on the mesa and the notable Natural Bridge near the settlement of Pine. Water sources were clearly critical for these frontier outposts, as evidenced by the mapping of numerous tanks and springs such as Rattlesnake Tank and Wildcat Spring. This survey, conducted by A.P. Davis under the direction of J.W. Powell, illustrates the complex relationship between the high plateau and the deep basins of Yavapai and Maricopa counties.