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1957 Map of Tucson East

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Tucson East
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1966
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1966

About this map

Tucson's eastward expansion is captured here during the mid-1950s, characterized by a rapid transition from desert wash to residential and institutional development. The map reveals a high concentration of private academies and parochial schools on the urban fringe, including the St Josephs Academy (Villa Carondelet), The Abbie Loveland Tuller School, and the Reina Cleri Seminary. This educational corridor sits just north of the expansive Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, which dominates the southern half of the landscape alongside the Southern Pacific Railroad.

Hydrological features like Pantano Wash and Tanque Verde Creek define the natural boundaries of the growing city. Unique scientific and recreational landmarks are also evident, from the USC&GS Magnetic Observatory to the El Tanque Golf Course. Smaller residential pockets such as Vandenberg Village and Littletown appear as established outliers in a landscape still marked by numerous gravel pits and sprawling ranch land.