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1956 Map of Higley

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Higley
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1982
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1982

About this map

Williams Air Force Base dominates the eastern landscape of this Maricopa County study, reflecting the mid-century military expansion in the Arizona desert. The map captures the intersection of heavy infrastructure and rural life, where the Southern Pacific railroad and irrigation corridors like the Eastern Canal and Roosevelt Canal define the grid-based settlement pattern. Small agricultural communities such as Higley and Germann are shown alongside local landmarks like Higley Sch and the Arizona Boys Ranch.

The presence of the Desert Proving Grounds and a Landing Field near Rittenhouse emphasizes the region's importance to flight and automotive testing during this era. In the southern reach, the seasonal path of Queen Creek cuts across the otherwise orderly surveyor's grid, passing near the Queen Creek Sch. This document preserves a specific moment before the suburban expansion of the late 20th century, highlighting a landscape still primarily dedicated to aviation, ranching, and large-scale desert irrigation.