1952 Map of Tempe

About this map

Arizona State College at Tempe serves as the academic core of this mid-century desert landscape, surrounded by a rapidly expanding network of residential grids and agricultural research facilities. The map illustrates a pivotal transition as the valley's historic irrigation system, including the Arizona Canal, Grand Canal, and Western Canal, supported both the remaining rural acreage and the burgeoning suburbs of Scottsdale and Tempe. The presence of the U of Arizona Experimental Farm and the Arizona State Hospital Farm highlights the area's agricultural legacy, while the sprawling Papago State Park preserves the unique geology of the Papago Buttes and Barnes Butte. To the east, the Salt River Indian Reservation meets the river's edge, and numerous local landmarks like the Arizona Falls Power House and various neighborhood schools like Winfield Scott Sch provide granular detail for local historians.