1965 Map of Wickenburg SW

About this map

The Vulture Mountains dominate this desert landscape northwest of Phoenix, characterized by a network of drainage washes and historical mining activity. The Hassayampa River cuts through the eastern portion of the sheet, where seasonal water flow once supported early industrial sites like the Smith Mill (Site). Transportation in the mid-1960s was defined by the Atchison Topeka And Santa Fe railroad and numerous desert tracks, including several designated Jeep Trail routes and a remote Landing Strip. Evidence of early settlement and resource extraction is scattered throughout the terrain, from a solitary Grave near the river to various Mine workings and a Gravel Pit. The southern reaches of the map show the corner of LUKE AUXILIARY FIELD NO 4 (City of Phoenix), illustrating the post-war military and municipal expansion into the Maricopa County desert.