1952 Map of Mesa

About this map

Agricultural irrigation systems and the expanding urban core of Mesa characterize this early 1950s landscape. The Salt River defines the northern reaches, where the Salt River Indian Reservation Boundary separates tribal lands from the citrus groves and fields of the Salt River Valley. A complex network of waterways, including the Consolidated Canal, Tempe Canal, and Mesa Canal, feeds the surrounding farmland and the U of Arizona Experimental Farm. Within the city, the LDS Temple and Civic Center stand as prominent landmarks near the Southern Pacific rail line. Local education and community life are well-documented through a dense concentration of neighborhood institutions such as Washington Sch, Irving Sch, and Alma Sch, alongside the Salt River Indian Day Sch located to the north in the reservation.