1956 Map of Buckhorn

About this map

Salt River Indian Reservation and the Tonto National Forest define the northern limits of this landscape, where the Salt River flows past the Usery Mts. This 1956 map, updated with 1980s urban expansion, documents the rapid transformation of the desert floor into a grid of residential developments and irrigation infrastructure. The South Canal, Roosevelt Canal, and Consolidated Canal weave through the terrain, supporting the agricultural transition of areas like Sunshine Acres and Harmony Villa. Notable aviation history is represented by Falcon Field, while local social landmarks including the Arizona Girls Ranch and the Spook Hill Recreation Area provide a sense of the community's mid-century footprint. The expansion of Mesa is clearly visible through purple-tinted urban updates, showing how new neighborhoods pushed toward the Double Knolls and the base of Stone Mth.