1943 Map of Benson

About this map

Benson and the San Pedro River valley are shown here during the early 1940s, a period when the Southern Pacific and its Nogales Branch railroads anchored the local economy. The map provides a detailed view of the Fort Huachuca Military Reservation, including the Target Range and Garden Canyon. This era represents a significant military buildup in the region. To the east, Tombstone sits surrounded by distinctive hills like Uncle Sam Hill and Military Hill, while the river corridor is marked by historic sites such as Fairbank, Charleston, and the appropriately named Contention. Small rural centers and post offices like Huachuca Turner PO and schools such as Evans School and Fairview School are scattered across the landscape, documenting a settlement pattern that preceded modern expansion. The topographic detail captures the transition from the high desert floor to the heights of the Whetstone Mts and Dragoon Mountains.