1949 Map of Superior

About this map

Superior sits at the heart of a productive mining district in the years following the second World War, dominated by the extensive Magma Copper Mines and its associated industrial infrastructure. The town's layout is intricately tied to the copper industry, featuring a massive Smelter, Slag Dump, and multiple Tailings Ponds that illustrate the scale of extraction. Beyond the active pits, the landscape is dotted with evidence of earlier booms, including the Silver King Mine and Fortuna Mine. Transportation through this high desert terrain relies on the Magma Arizona railroad and the course of Queen Creek. Local life is anchored by the High School and Cemetery, while the surrounding mountains are protected within the Crook National Forest and Tonto National Forest. Nearby, the Superior Airport and a Golf Course suggest the post-war expansion of local amenities alongside the established ranching at J L Ranch.