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1981 Map of Tanque Verde Peak

Name: 1981 Topographic Map of Tanque Verde Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1993
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1993

About this map

Tanque Verde Ridge and the Rincon Mountains dominate this landscape on the eastern edge of Tucson, captured in the early 1980s as suburban expansion met the desert foothills. The map reveals the early residential footprint near Twin Hills, where streets like East Speedway Road and East Broadway end at the Old Military Reservation Boundary. This transition from organized street grids to the open terrain of the Saguaro National Monument illustrates the careful balance of conservation and development in Pima County.

Lower elevations are defined by the Tanque Verde Wash and the Rincon Valley, where water sources like La Cebadilla Lake and Lake Gambusi supported local activity. Notable sites include the National Monument Headquarters and the Thunderhead Ranch, while the interior terrain is marked by isolated landmarks like Scotts Knob and Sentinel Butte. Hikers and historians can trace the Old Spanish Trail as it skirts the foothills, leading toward Hope Camp and the deeper Saguaro Wilderness.