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1981 Map of Phoenix South

Name: 1981 Topographic Map of Phoenix South
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

The Gila River corridor south of Phoenix anchors this 1981 revision, revealing a landscape defined by expansive tribal lands and irrigated agricultural pockets. The Gila River Indian Reservation and Ak Chin Indian Reservation occupy significant portions of the valley floor, interspersed with settlements like Buckeye and Goodyear. The era's transportation and military infrastructure are prominent, featuring the Southern Pacific railroad and multiple aviation sites, including Luke Aux Field No 6 and the Phoenix-Litchfield Municipal Airport.

Beyond the valley floor, the Sierra Estrella and Maricopa Mountains rise sharply, preserved in part by the Estrella Mountain County Regional Park and Phoenix South Mountain Park. Evidence of earlier industry persists at the Buckeye Copper Mine, while smaller communities such as Valencia and Arlington appear as hubs within the Buckeye Valley. The map captures the transition from high-desert wilderness to the expanding agricultural and suburban footprint of the late twentieth century.