1952 Map of Tempe

About this map

Papago Park and the rugged Papago Buttes dominate the central landscape of this desert transition zone, where the industrial and academic growth of the post-war era meets the irrigation legacy of the Salt River Valley. The map documents the rapid expansion of Tempe and eastern Phoenix before the full saturation of suburban development. The presence of the Arizona State University campus and Mt Carmel Sch indicates a growing educational hub, while the Tovrea Stockyard and nearby Sewage Disposal sites reveal the working-class infrastructure of the mid-century valley.