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1985 Map of Thatcher

Name: 1985 Topographic Map of Thatcher
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1986
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1986

About this map

The agrarian landscape of the Gila River Valley is sharply defined in this mid-1980s survey, where the settlements of Thatcher and Central sit amidst a complex network of irrigation infrastructure. The local water management system, critical to the region's development, is visible through the Union Canal, Smithville Canal, and High Line Canal. Educational roots are anchored by the Eastern Arizona Jr College campus in Thatcher, while the town's cemetery, labeled Cem, provides a primary reference for genealogists studying the area's early families.

To the south, the terrain rises dramatically into the Graham Mountains and the Coronado National Forest. This transition from the flat, canal-fed valley to the rugged slopes of Frye Mesa is marked by numerous water storage features like Cluff Reservoir No 1 and Cluff Reservoir No 3, which supported both the valley's agriculture and the upland forest resources. The map also captures local recreation through the Golf Course and Athletic Fields near the college.