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1954 Map of Phoenix

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Phoenix
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1976
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1976

About this map

The Phoenix metropolitan area and the expansive Sonoran Desert landscape of Central Arizona are depicted here at a mid-century turning point. While the city of Phoenix and suburbs like Glendale and Sun City show the beginnings of rapid suburban expansion, the surrounding terrain remains dominated by desert plains and jagged massifs. The industrial legacy of the region is evident in the numerous operations dotting the mountains, including the legendary Vulture Gold Mine and the Silver Queen Mine.

Military and agricultural land use patterns define the valley floor, with Luke Air Force Base and its surrounding auxiliary fields, such as Luke AF No 1, positioned near extensive irrigation networks. The course of the Gila River and Agua Fria River anchor the drainage of the basin, while the Gila River Indian Reservation and Maricopa Indian Reservation reflect the long-standing indigenous presence. Transportation corridors like the Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe and Southern Pacific railroads illustrate the vital transit links connecting these desert settlements.