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1979 Map of Arivaca

Name: 1979 Topographic Map of Arivaca
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

Mining and ranching define the landscape of Arivaca and its surrounding desert foothills in the late 1970s. The settlement's history is deeply connected to mineral extraction, visible through numerous workings like the Backbone Mine, Amado Mine, and the Edwards Mine. Water remains the critical resource for these operations and local life, evidenced by the Arivaca Coop Water Wells and a network of tanks and springs such as Fraguita Spring and Caviglia Tank.

To the south, the terrain rises into the Coronado National Forest, where the Cobre Ridge and San Luis Mountains create a complex geography of canyons. Notable family-named landmarks like Honnas Ranch and Montana Ranch dot the map, while Arivaca Lake sits near the eastern edge. The presence of several landing strips and a cemetery near the town center provides a window into the infrastructure and community life of this Pima County region before the turn of the decade.