1952 Map of Tempe

About this map

Papago Park and its iconic Papago Buttes anchor this detailed mid-century view of the growing Phoenix metropolitan area. The landscape is defined by the engineered flow of the Arizona Canal, Grand Canal, and Cross Cut Canal, which fueled the agricultural and urban development seen here. Significant local landmarks include the Arizona State University campus, the Desert Botanical Gardens, and the Pueblo Grande Museum near the banks of the Salt River. The map also captures the industrial and institutional character of the era, from the Tovrea Stockyard and Arizona State Hospital Farm to the Arizona Nat Guard Maint facility. Residential expansion is evident in the purple-tinted urban extensions of Scottsdale, Tempe, and Mesa, while the Salt River Indian Reservation remains prominent to the east.