1979 Map of Estrella

About this map

The Maricopa Mountains dominate this 1979 survey, with the high point at Big Horn rising above the surrounding desert floor. This arid landscape is defined by the vital infrastructure of the Southern Pacific railroad, which cuts through the northern portion of the quadrangle. Along these tracks, small rail-related sidings and settlements like Estrella, Shawmut, and Ocapos provide the only human anchor points in an otherwise vast expanse of high-relief terrain. The passage of the railroad here illustrates the historic importance of this corridor for transcontinental transit across the Arizona desert.