1971 Map of Phoenix

About this map

The sprawling grid of Phoenix dominates this 1971 orthophotomosaic, revealing a dense urban landscape in the midst of rapid desert expansion. The aerial perspective captures the complex texture of the city's growth, from the tightly packed residential blocks and commercial corridors of the central district to the industrial and agricultural zones bordering the Salt River. To the south, South Phoenix appears as a distinct area where the urban pattern begins to soften into larger tracts and less dense development, reflecting the city's southward reach toward the river's edge. This detailed photographic record provides a clear look at the mid-century infrastructure, transportation arteries, and irrigation patterns that transformed the Maricopa County desert into a major metropolitan hub.