1912 Map of Phoenix

About this map

The Salt River and its complex network of irrigation ditches define this early 20th-century landscape, illustrating the vital infrastructure required to sustain growth in the desert. From the Grand Canal to the Wormser Canal, the map reveals how water engineering shaped the development of Phoenix and outlying settlements like Alhambra. To the south, the Salt River Mountains provide a natural barrier between the city and the Gila River Indian Reservation, where the Gila River meets the Santa Cruz River. This period shows a community established through institutional and social markers, including the Indian School, State Hospital, and several rural schoolhouses like Fowler School and Isaac School. The presence of the Gold Coin Mine and the Prescott and Phoenix RR highlights the era's reliance on both extraction and rail transport to connect the valley to broader markets.