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1948 Map of Superior

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Superior
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1953
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1953

About this map

Superior stands as the industrial heart of this Arizona landscape, dominated by the sprawling operations of the Magna Copper Co. The copper-driven economy is physically expressed through the presence of a massive Smelter, Slag Dump, and the Magma Arizona Railroad terminating at the townsite. Beyond the urban center, the terrain is dotted with high-elevation mining claims like the Silver King Mine and Apache Mine, reflecting decades of extraction in the foothills of Peachville Mtn.

In the more remote reaches of the Tonto National Forest, evidence of early pioneers and indigenous history remains visible. The presence of Cliff Dwellings near Rogers Troughs (Old Mill) and the Reevis Grave at Reevis Ranch provide a narrative of human survival in the high desert. Scattered cattle outposts like Miles Ranch and Tony Ranch are linked by a network of historic paths including the Reevis Trail, illustrating the region's dual identity as both an industrial mining hub and a ranching frontier.