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1966 Map of Blackwater

Name: 1966 Topographic Map of Blackwater
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1970
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1970

About this map

The Gila River Indian Reservation Boundary defines the northern and central portions of this 1966 survey, framing the settlement of Blackwater. The landscape is dominated by the seasonal course of the Gila River and its tributary, Little Blackwater, alongside the dry reach of McClellan Wash. These watercourses are flanked by an extensive network of irrigation infrastructure, including the North Side Canal and Pima Lateral, which supported agricultural development in the arid basin.

Distinctive volcanic landforms rise sharply from the valley floor, such as Mineral Butte, Twin Buttes, and Walker Butte. To the southeast, the Southern Pacific tracks run parallel to an Old Railroad Grade, tracing the evolution of regional transport. The map also captures the edge of the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, where early 20th-century communication infrastructure is noted by Radio Towers and the Radio Station (KCKY).