1988 Map of Phoenix North

About this map

The Hassayampa Plain and the Vulture Mountains anchor this late 1980s look at the northwestern reaches of the Valley of the Sun. This era shows the dramatic suburban expansion of Sun City and Glendale, contrasting with the rugged, mineral-focused history of the Wickenburg area to the northwest. The map captures critical infrastructure from the Beardsley Canal to Luke Air Force Base, alongside the legacy of the Vulture Mine and Big Stick Mine. The intricate drainage patterns of Sols Wash and the Agua Fria River illustrate the hydrology that dictated early settlement, while newer developments like Sun City West and Circle City show a landscape undergoing rapid transformation from desert rangeland to a modern metropolitan edge.