Loading map...

1955 Map of Winnemucca

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Winnemucca
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1974
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1974

About this map

The Humboldt River corridor defines this high-desert landscape during the mid-twentieth century, serving as the primary artery for both the Southern Pacific and Western Pacific railroads. The map reveals a region transitioning from its early mining and ranching foundations toward larger-scale industrial operations, evidenced by the presence of the Blue Star Mine and Gold Quarry Mine in the east. Settlements like Winnemucca and Battle Mountain stand as vital hubs within a geography of alternating mountain ranges and broad valleys, including the Reese River Valley and Puwernekel Valley.

Water remains the critical element for survival and industry, from the geothermal features of the Buffalo Valley Hot Springs to the seasonal flows in the Fish Creek Basin. This 1971 revision documents the early stages of the interstate era with Route 80 appearing alongside older paths like Route 40. The cartography captures a vast area where public lands, the Battle Mountain Indian Res, and private ranching interests coexist among the peaks of the Sonoma Range and the Shoshone Range.