1942 Map of Yuma

About this map

The Colorado River and Gila River serve as the lifeblood of this arid border region, defined by massive irrigation projects and wartime activity. The 1942 landscape is shaped by the Imperial Dam and Laguna Dam, which divert water into the All American Canal Project to transform the Yuma Desert and East Mesa. Military preparations are evident at the Army Air Base and CCC Camp, while the surrounding mountains contain a dense concentration of mining history, including the Picacho Mine, Tumco Mines, and American Girl Mine. Across the border, settlements like San Luis and Cuervos line the rail corridors of the Southern Pacific and National Railways of Mexico. The map documents a critical moment where massive engineering and global conflict converged on the southwestern frontier.