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1906 Map of Camelsback

Name: 1906 Topographic Map of Camelsback
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1930
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1930

About this map

The arid landscape of central Arizona at the turn of the century is defined by the contrast between its prominent mountain ranges and early hydraulic infrastructure. Topographer T. M. Bannon and his team surveyed this terrain in the early 1900s, documenting the expanse of Paradise Valley before the suburban growth of Phoenix reached these foothills. The map details the rugged topography of the McDowell Mts, including McDowell Pk and Thompson Pk, as well as the distinctive Camelsback Mtn to the south.

Critical water management is visible through the paths of the Arizona Canal and the Old Verde Canal, which represent the early efforts to reclaim the desert for agriculture. These man-made channels skirt the northern boundary of the Salt River Indian Reservation. To the north, the boundary of the Tonto National Forest begins, while isolated water sources like Mountain Spring and the simple Corral settlement indicate the area's early reliance on sparse springs and livestock ranching.