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1943 Map of San Xavier Mission

Name: 1943 Topographic Map of San Xavier Mission
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1943
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1943

About this map

The San Xavier del Bac Mission stands as a focal point in this early 1940s survey of the Sonoran landscape southwest of Tucson. The territory is defined by the sharp transition from the Santa Cruz River valley to the heights of the Tucson Mountains. Large swaths of land are designated as the San Xavier Indian Reservation and the Papago Indian Reservation, reflecting the region's deep indigenous heritage.

Institutional landmarks such as the Pima County Preventorium, St Marys Hospital, and the Desert Laboratory on Tumamoc Hill mark the edge of suburban growth. Further out, the map details a ranching economy with sites like Triple C Ranch and Cottonwood Ranch scattered across the desert floor. Remote landmarks like Robles Pass and Gates Pass provide transit through the peaks of Tucson Mountain Park, while the Ajo-Tucson Highway serves as the primary artery connecting these isolated outposts.