1956 Map of Higley

About this map

Williams Air Force Base dominates the center of this mid-1950s Arizona landscape, showcasing a massive military footprint complete with a Golf Course, Willie Park, and a complex grid of base housing. The surrounding territory is defined by an intensive irrigation infrastructure including the Eastern Canal and Roosevelt Canal, which support the agricultural development of Maricopa County. The Southern Pacific Rittenhouse railroad line cuts diagonally through the sheet, linking the small settlement of Higley and its nearby Higley Sch to the rural outpost at Rittenhouse. To the southeast, the Arizona Boys Ranch and Queen Creek Sch near the banks of Queen Creek indicate the steady growth of social and educational institutions in this desert environment. The presence of the Desert Proving Grounds in the northeast further highlights the region's importance for military testing and development during this era.