1914 Map of Gila Butte

About this map

The Gila River Indian Reservation dominates this landscape during a period of expanding irrigation and transit infrastructure in central Arizona. The Gila River and the Little Gila River weave through the central plain, supported by the Consolidated Canal and the Santan Ditch, indicating the transition toward large-scale agricultural reclamation. Early commerce is anchored by the Sweetwater Store Indian Trading Post and the North Lane Trading Post, which served local communities like Snaketown and Sweetwater. Educational foundations are visible at the Casa Blanca Indian School and Tyler School. To the south, the Santan Mountains rise above the flat desert floor, while the Southern Pacific and Arizona Eastern railroads provide critical links to the burgeoning Arizona territory, passing through stops such as Liron and Alicia.