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1949 Map of Sentinel

Name: 1949 Topographic Map of Sentinel
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1961
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1961

About this map

The Gila River cuts through the northern corner of this arid landscape, characterized by the rising peaks of the Painted Rock Mountains and the distinct volcanic form of Sentinel Pk. The mid-century transportation corridor follows a tight east-west axis, where the Southern Pacific railroad and a 4 Lane roadway link the sparse desert outposts of Sentinel, Tartron, and Midway Station.

Evidence of historical irrigation attempts appears in the form of an (Abandoned Ditch) near the riverbank, suggesting the challenges of desert agriculture before more modern water management. Much of the southern landscape is occupied by the Ajo Gila Bend Military Reservation, while local industry is represented by a small Gravel Pit and a Tower along the rail line. This survey captures a moment of transition when the desert was beginning to be bisected by high-capacity road networks while maintaining its remote, undeveloped character.