1954 Map of Mesa

About this map

Arizona State University and the emerging suburbs of Tempe, Mesa, and Scottsdale anchor the western edge of this mid-century landscape, just as the postwar boom began transforming the Salt River Valley. While the grid of Phoenix expands toward Chandler and Williams AF Base, the map's eastern half remains dominated by industrial and indigenous land use. Heavy mining activity is centered around the Inspiration Mine near Miami and Globe, alongside the Magma Mine at Superior, marking the copper-driven economy of the era. The vast hydro-social engineering of the Salt River and Gila River is evident in the series of reservoirs, including Theodore Roosevelt Lake and San Carlos Reservoir, which supported both desert agriculture and the rising urban centers. This survey captures the region at a pivotal moment, balancing historical mining towns with the massive expansion of the Phoenix metropolitan area.