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1952 Map of Pima Butte

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of Pima Butte
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1975
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1975

About this map

The Gila River Indian Reservation landscape is defined by the convergence of hydraulic engineering and desert hydrology in the early 1950s. This survey records the complex braiding of the Gila River and its major tributaries, including Santa Cruz Wash and Vekol Wash, which traverse the arid plains toward the prominent landmark of Pima Butte. The presence of the Hoover Ditch and Santa Cruz Ditch in the northwest corner highlights the importance of managed water for local agriculture, supporting sites like the Lone Butte Ranch.

Evidence of historical habitation and land use is found in scattered features such as a Corral and unidentified Ruins. These details, along with the numerous benchmarks and dry reservoirs, illustrate a period when the natural watercourses were being integrated into a more structured regional infrastructure. The map also delineates the jurisdictional boundary between Maricopa Co and Pinal Co, showing how political lines bisect this riverine environment.