1971 Map of Gila Butte NW

About this map

Agricultural fields in the Gila River Indian Community meet the arid desert terrain of Central Arizona in this 1971 orthophotomosaic. The settlement of Bapchule sits in the lower portion of the sheet, surrounded by a complex network of irrigated farmland that contrasts sharply with the winding, braided channel of the Gila River. This imagery provides a distinct visual record of land use, where the geometric precision of human cultivation abruptly transitions into the natural drainage patterns of the desert. In the upper right, the Goodyear Air Force Auxiliary Airfield appears as a stark, cleared geometric form, reflecting the military's aviation footprint in the region during the early 1970s. The map captures the delicate balance between the riparian zone and the expanding agricultural developments of Pinal and Maricopa counties.