1971 Map of Mesa

About this map

Mesa appears as an expanding suburban grid in this 1971 orthophoto, where dense residential developments meet the sharp edges of remaining agricultural fields. This aerial mosaic, published by the U.S. Geological Survey, captures a transitional moment for the community as it grows southward from the wide, braided bed of the Salt River. The imagery reveals the stark geometry of the desert landscape, defined by a complex network of irrigation canals and section-line roads that shaped the valley's settlement. To the north, the riverbed shows the characteristic sand bars and scrub of the arid drainage system, while the central portions of the map document the rapid conversion of citrus groves and cotton fields into the structured neighborhood blocks of a modern city.