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1952 Map of Phoenix

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of Phoenix
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

Phoenix undergoes a period of significant post-war expansion in this early 1950s survey, showing the city's transition from an agricultural hub to a major desert metropolis. The dense grid of downtown streets is anchored by institutional landmarks such as Arizona State Hosp, the Heard Museum, and a vast network of neighborhood schools like Booker T Washington Sch and Kenilworth School. Industrial and aviation infrastructure is prominent, with Phoenix Municipal Airport and Airhaven Airport serving the growing population, while the Salt River defines the southern boundary of the urban core.

The landscape retains traces of its earlier character through the extensive canal system, including the Grand Canal and the Gila and Salt River Base Line. A cluster of historic burial grounds, such as Greenwood Cem and Beth El Cemetery, sits on the western edge of the city. To the south, South Phoenix appears as a distinct area, marked by the South Phoenix Airport and a series of schools and parks that suggest the early stages of suburban development along Southern Ave and Baseline Road.