[4] : 168  It lies on a rocky point of land next to the river at 215 feet of elevation just east of Red Cloud Wash and Black Rock Wash, where roads to the district mines in the mountains met the Colorado River.

The Silver District became active in 1879 when George Sills, Neils Johnson, George W. Norton, and Gus Crawford relocated many silver claims abandoned following the death of Jacob Snively in 1871.

[5]: 138 The landing and settlement was named for George W. Norton who owned the Red Cloud Mine and its smelter at the landing, and had been the engineer in charge of constructing the first railroad bridge across the Colorado River, at Yuma, Arizona in 1877.

[6]: 746–747  The landing also had general store, and a post office called Norton's from June 4, 1883, to August 24, 1888, when it was discontinued, mail being sent to Yuma.

The Arizona Sentinel, Yuma, AZ, on 17 April 1897: The famous and well-known silver district mining town, Norton's Landing, is completely deserted, on account of the low price of silver and the mines closing down.