1952 Map of Gila Butte NW

About this map

Gila River Indian Reservation lands dominate this mid-century landscape, where the Gila River meanders through a network of engineered water management features. The settlement of Snaketown sits north of the river, while further south, Bapchule serves as a local hub near several water wells and a cemetery. This area reveals a transition from the natural riverbed to an organized agricultural and military landscape, marked by the presence of a Levee system and the Goodyear Air Force Auxiliary Airfield in the northern reaches. For local history researchers, the map provides precise locations for community centers such as St Francis Borgia Ch and an Adventist Ch. The grid of the desert floor is defined by established routes like Rittenhouse Road and Superstition Road, which cross the Maricopa and Pinal county line.