1952 Map of Laveen

About this map

The Gila River Indian Reservation dominates this landscape south of Laveen, where the desert meets intensive irrigation and tribal settlements. In the early 1950s, the convergence of the Gila River and the Santa Cruz River (marked as Santa Cruz Wash further south) supported established communities such as Komatke, Gila Crossing, and Maricopa Village. The presence of St Johns Indian Sch and several burial sites, including the Maricopa Cem and Co-op Village Cemetery, highlights the area's deep social and genealogical importance. This study shows the transition from the irrigated fields of the Co-op Village to the high, uncultivated terrain of the Sierra Estrella and the South Mountains. Agricultural infrastructure is evident through the Western Canal, Co-Op Ditch, and numerous Silos, reflecting a river-and-canal economy that has shaped the Gila River Valley for generations.