1968 Map of Tucson SE

About this map

The southeastern desert of the Tucson basin was defined by heavy infrastructure and defense operations in the late 1960s. Davis-Monthan Air Force Base occupies the northern edge, while the southern landscape is dominated by the Sahuarita Bombing and Gunnery Range. The Southern Pacific Railroad cuts a diagonal path through the desert, linking small rail-side settlements like Wilmot, Esmond, and Littletown. This period shows a complex network of resource management and logistics, evidenced by the prominent Pipeline corridors and the Aqueduct crossing the arid terrain. Local agricultural roots persist at Franco Ranch, but the area is increasingly industrial and public-facing, centered around the Pima County Fairgrounds and utility installations like the Nogales Substation. Numerous Gravel Pits and Borrow Pits mark the earth, signaling the physical material needs of regional expansion during this era.