1917 Map of Gila Butte

About this map

Gila River Indian Reservation lands dominate this central Arizona landscape, where the Gila River and Little Gila River weave through a network of early irrigation infrastructure and indigenous settlements. Surveyed by the U.S. Reclamation Service, the map highlights the critical role of water management in the desert, featuring the Consolidated Canal, the Santan Ditch, and numerous U.S.R.S. Pump stations. The presence of the Sweetwater Store Indian Trading Post and North Line Trading Post underscores the regional commerce of the early twentieth century. Educational and community hubs like Snaketown, the Casa Blanca Indian School, and Tyler School are recorded alongside various cemeteries. Rail connectivity is provided by the Arizona Eastern (Phoenix Division) and the Southern Pacific, while the Santan Mountains and volcanic forms like Gila Butte and Sacaton Butte anchor the topography.