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1959 Map of Tucson

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Tucson
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1959
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1959

About this map

Tucson serves as the focal point of this late-1950s landscape, flanked by the massive Santa Catalina Mountains and the expansive Coronado National Forest. This era shows a region balancing rapid military and industrial expansion with deep-rooted agricultural patterns. To the southeast of the city, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base is a prominent fixture, while the Marana Air Base sits further northwest near Marana. The industrial footprint of the copper industry is evident at the San Manuel Mine and the Silver Bell Mine.

Along the Santa Cruz River, traditional agricultural settlements like Casa Grande, Eloy, and Coolidge are linked by the Southern Pacific railroad and early highways. The map details the transition from the desert floor of the Santa Cruz Flats to the high peaks of Mount Lemmon. Significant indigenous lands, including the San Xavier Indian Reservation and Papago Indian Reservation, emphasize the complex cultural geography of Southern Arizona during this period.