1971 Map of Perryville

About this map

Grid-patterned agricultural fields dominate this 1971 orthophotomosaic of the Maricopa County landscape. This specific type of aerial survey reveals the highly organized irrigation and land-use patterns essential for desert farming south of the White Tank Mountains. The small settlement of Perryville sits centrally within this geometric patchwork, while the community of Liberty anchors the southern boundary. The natural curves of the Gila River cut a distinct, irregular path across the bottom of the map, contrasting sharply with the man-made canals and roads that define the surrounding valley. This perspective provides an clear look at rural development and water management in the Salt River Valley just before the rapid suburban expansion of the late twentieth century reached this portion of the Arizona desert.