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1981 Map of Wells

Name: 1981 Topographic Map of Wells
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

The high desert basins of northeast Nevada are defined here by a massive convergence of early western infrastructure where the Southern Pacific and Western Pacific railroads trace the natural corridors of the Goshute Valley and Tecoma Valley. The settlement at Wells serves as a critical junction, situated where the Snake Mountains meet the Wood Hills and providing a gateway to the livestock and mineral lands of the interior.

Smaller outposts like Cobre and Montello highlight the region's historical dependence on rail transit, while the presence of Harriet Field and various landing strips speaks to the mid-century evolution of remote transport. Water remains the most valuable resource across this landscape, evidenced by the intricate drainage systems of Thousand Springs Creek and Pilot Creek, which supported the isolated homesteads and ranching efforts at Wilkins and Medicine. The map also captures the Nevada-Utah border where the Pilot Range stands as a final sentinel before the salt flats to the east.