1952 Map of Tempe

About this map

Arizona State College at Tempe sits at the heart of this mid-century survey, surrounded by the rapidly expanding urban footprints of Tempe, Scottsdale, and Phoenix. The landscape is defined by an intricate network of irrigation, including the Arizona Canal, Grand Canal, and Western Canal, which supported the region's transition from desert to a bustling agricultural and academic hub. To the north, Papago State Park preserves the distinctive geology of the Papago Buttes, while industrial interests are evidenced by the Tovrea Stockyard and the Southern Pacific railroad lines. The map also records numerous local educational and social landmarks, from the Winfield Scott Sch to the Arizona State Hospital Farm, and several significant burial grounds such as St Francis Cemetery and the Tempe Cemetery, providing a detailed look at the community's early infrastructure and land use before late-century suburbanization.