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1932 Map of Ajo

Name: 1932 Topographic Map of Ajo
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

Ajo stands as the industrial and social heart of this desert landscape, its development deeply tied to the massive New Cornelia Mines that dominate the local economy. The town is surrounded by distinct residential and service clusters including Mexican Town, Gibson, and Clarkstown Rowood PO, reflecting the segregated settlement patterns common in early 20th-century mining districts. This 1930s survey captures the region just as modern infrastructure was taking hold, evidenced by the Tucson Cornelia and Gila Bend RR and the Ajo Landing Field which connected this remote copper center to the wider world.

Beyond the mine, the terrain is defined by the Little Ajo Mountains and the broad Valley of the Ajo. Local landmarks like Locomotive Rock and Ajo Peak rise above a landscape dotted with essential water sources like Darby Well and Pico Shunie Well, which were vital for the scattered cattle operations at Sneed Ranch and Childs Ranch. The map even records recreational and cultural sites, from the Ajo Golf Club to the Indian Cem.