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1994 Map of Safford

Name: 1994 Topographic Map of Safford
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1994
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1994

About this map

The Gila Valley serves as the agricultural and social spine of this region, where the Gila River supports a string of communities including Safford, Thatcher, and Pima. By the mid-1990s, the landscape reflects a complex geography of water management and high-altitude terrain, with the Pinaleno Mountains rising sharply to the southwest. The presence of Eastern Arizona College in Thatcher and the Safford Municipal Airport nearby indicates the area's role as a regional hub for education and transit.

Industrial and recreational footprints are evident through the Southern Pacific RR corridor and sites like Roper Lake State Park. Beyond the irrigated valley floor, the terrain shifts into the arid expanses of the San Simon Valley and the Peloncillo Mountains, where landmarks like Guthrie Peak and Whitlock Peak define the horizon. This period captures the transition between the historical mining and ranching economy and modern land management within the Coronado National Forest.