1984 Map of Tucson North

About this map

Oro Valley and Casas Adobes sit at the transition between the urban expansion of Tucson and the steep southern front of the Santa Catalina Mountains in the mid-1980s. The landscape is defined by the ephemeral Rillito River and its various tributaries like Pima Wash and Geronimo Wash, which drain the high peaks of Mt. Kimball and Pusch Peak. While much of the southern portion of the map is densely gridded with residential developments and schools like Holaway Sch and Helen Keeling Sch, the northern section remains largely dominated by the Coronado National Forest and the Pima Canyon Wilderness. This era of development is captured through features like the Rillito Downs Race Track, the University of Arizona Farm, and the Tucson Medical Center, illustrating a community balancing its agricultural roots and recreational amenities with rapid suburban growth.