1915 Map of Mesa

About this map

The Salt River and its elaborate network of irrigation canals define the landscape of the East Valley during this early twentieth-century survey. Irrigation infrastructure, managed by the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Reclamation Service, is the lifeblood of the region, appearing as the Arizona Canal, Consolidated Canal, and numerous others that support agricultural settlements like Mesa and Tempe. The town of Tempe is anchored by the Arizona State Normal School and the nearby Tempe Butte, while the surrounding rural areas are dotted with local landmarks such as the Creamery, Alma School, and Kyrene School. To the north, the Salt River Indian Reservation includes the Indian Agency and School and the historic Lehi settlement. This era represents a pivotal moment when the desert was being systematically transformed by water management and rail lines like the Arizona Eastern RR.