1934 Map of Ajo

About this map

The New Cornelia Mines dominate this desert landscape, revealing the industrial scale of copper mining in Pima County during the early 1930s. The map captures the distinct social geography of the era, showing Ajo alongside Mexican Town, Gibson, and the community of Clarkstown Rowood PO. This cluster of settlements, supported by the Tucson Cornelia and Gila Bend RR, illustrates a company town and its peripheral neighborhoods at their height. Beyond the industrial center, the topography transitions into the Little Ajo Mountains and the volcanic peaks of Ajo Peak and North Ajo Pk. To the north and west, the vast Childs Valley is marked by essential water sources like Batamote Well and Chico Shunie Well, alongside the remote Sneed Ranch and Childs Ranch, highlighting the isolation and resilience of early ranching operations in the Sonoran Desert.