1971 Map of Hedgpeth Hills

About this map

Hedgpeth Hills dominate the central-eastern portion of this 1971 orthophotoquad, which uses aerial photography to document the Maricopa County landscape at a moment of transition. While the northern reaches of the quadrangle remain largely undeveloped desert terrain, the southern sections display a distinct shift toward intensive agriculture. A rigid grid of irrigation and field patterns defines the land use around Skunk Creek, while the New River meanders across the western edge of the sheet. The contrast between the natural topography of Pyramid Pk and the emerging industrial-scale farming provides a clear look at how water management was reshaping the Phoenix-area periphery in the early 1970s.