1971 Map of Gila Butte

About this map

Ocotillo and Bapchule represent the primary points of settlement in this orthophotomap of Pinal County, where agricultural grid patterns sharply meet the untamed desert floor. Captured via aerial photography in the early 1970s, the landscape is defined by the heavy contrast between irrigated fields and the natural topography of the Gila River corridor. The prominent rise of Gila Butte stands as a distinct landmark against the surrounding lowlands, providing a clear visual anchor for the region's geography. This survey provides a rare visual record of land use before significant modern suburban expansion, detailing how water management and natural terrain dictated the layout of rural communities in this section of the Arizona desert.