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1955 Map of Zith-Tusayan Butte 1 SE

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Zith-Tusayan Butte 1 SE
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

Fort Defiance sits at the southwestern edge of this landscape, serving as a focal point where the Defiance Plateau drops away into the Black Creek Valley. This 1950s survey captures the geography of the Navajo Indian Reservation along the border of Arizona and New Mexico, a region defined by high elevations and seasonal drainage systems. The terrain transitions from the uplifted plateau in the west toward the sharply rising Sonsela Mountains in the east, with various washes and ephemeral streams like Bonito Creek and Meadow Wash dissecting the slopes.

Evidence of local resource management is scattered throughout the valley, indicated by numerous reservoirs, Dams, and Water Tanks near the settlement. The map also traces a network of Jeep Trails that navigate the ridges and canyons, providing access to remote points like White Clay Spring and Twin Buttes Wash. This document offers a detailed look at the infrastructure supporting the community before major modern developments altered the local travel and water systems.