2021 Map of West of Empire

About this map

The Fox Range defines the western landscape of this Nevada survey, its eastern slopes descending toward the iconic expanse of the Black Rock Desert. This transitional zone where mountain meets playa is marked by the deep Cottonwood Basin and the intermittent drainage of Cottonwood Cr and Willow Cr. While the terrain appears largely unsettled, the complex network of Public Land Survey System township and range lines, such as t31n r22.5e, reveals the systematic division of these arid lands for grazing or mineral claims. The map illustrates the stark contrast between the steep elevation changes of the mountains and the flat, silty basin that characterizes this part of Washoe County.