1964 Map of Union Hills

About this map

The Union Hills rise above a landscape defined by rapid mid-century expansion and infrastructure development on the northern edge of the Salt River Valley. During the 1960s, the area transitioned from open desert and grazing lands to an organized suburban grid, evidenced by the early footprints of the Village Meadows and Adobe settlements. The industrial and recreational life of the region is centered on landmarks such as the Deer Valley Airport and the Turf Paradise horse racing track, while the northern reaches of Deer Valley remain punctuated by smaller extractive operations like the Upton Mine and Turkey Track Mine. The hydrological character of the basin is managed through features like the Verde Canal and several water tanks, while prominent terrain features like Adobe Mountain and Buffalo Ridge provide natural boundaries to the emerging street network along Bell Road and Happy Valley Road.