1968 Map of San Xavier Mission SW

About this map

The San Xavier Indian Reservation dominates this southwestern Pima County landscape, capturing a transition from the lower Avra Valley into more varied terrain. In the late 1960s, this area was characterized by wide-open desert land with sparse human imprints, largely defined by ranching and traditional land use. Remnants of rural activity are visible at Cottonwood Ranch, located near the southern boundary, and the J Bar M to the north. A network of Jeep Trails and unnamed trails crisscross the reservation, reflecting a period before significant modern development reached this portion of the Sonoran Desert. Infrastructure is limited to essential water management features such as a Water Tank and scattered Wells, while Sandario Road provides the primary north-south transit corridor through the valley floor.