1973 Map of Cotton Center NW

About this map

The Gila River corridor south of the Buckeye Hills is defined here by a complex network of irrigation and desert water management during the early 1970s. The landscape transition from the Gila Mountains into the arid expanse of Little Rainbow Valley is marked by vital agricultural infrastructure, including the Gila Bend Canal, the Old Gila Bend Canal, and the Enterprise Canal. These water systems supported local operations like the Enterprise Ranch and a centralized Cotton Gin accompanied by a Storage Bin. This map captures a specific era of Sonoran Desert land use where numerous named wells, such as Hedges Well, and several Landing Strips provided the necessary connectivity for isolated ranching and farming outposts. The presence of both modern and old canal alignments suggests a history of evolving hydraulic engineering in this corner of Maricopa County.