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1955 Map of Verdure 4 SW

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Verdure 4 SW
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

Perkins Ranch and the deep drainage of Montezuma Creek characterize this high-desert plateau in San Juan County during the mid-1950s. The landscape is a complex network of canyons, including Bug Canyon, Mesa Canyon, and Monte Canyon, where early human history is recorded at Cliff Dwellings and Cliff Dwelling Petroglyphs. These archaeological sites indicate a long-standing pattern of habitation tied to the sparse water resources of the region.

Water management is a central theme of the map, visible through various Reservoirs and specialized infrastructure like the Maz Dalton Artesian Well and Bond Dalton Artesian Well. Industrial activity is limited but present, with several unnamed Mines scattered across the upland areas. Transportation is largely restricted to a primitive Jeep Trail, illustrating the difficult access to these canyon lands before more modern road networks were established.