1948 Map of Picketpost Mtn

About this map

The copper mining and desert ranching landscapes of eastern Pinal County are centered here at the foot of Picketpost Mountain. In this mid-century survey, updated through 1981, the burgeoning community of Superior occupies the eastern edge of the sheet, situated near the Old Pinal Townsite. The presence of the Magma Telephone Line and a Landing Strip near the town reflects the industrial infrastructure of the era. The terrain is characterized by complex drainage systems, including Queen Creek and Hewitt Canyon, which cut through the southern reaches of the Tonto National Forest. Regional botanical history is preserved at the Thompson Arboretum, established along the highway west of town. To the north, the map documents early mining activity at the Bomboy Mine and isolated outposts like Barnett Camp and Happy Camp, providing a record of human encroachment into the high desert during the first half of the 20th century.