1949 McGrew City Plan or Map of Phoenix, Arizona

This is a 1949 McGrew Commercial Printery city map of Phoenix, Arizona, distributed by the Lightning Moving and Warehouse Company. The map captures Phoenix during its post-World War II (1939 - 1945) boom, when a combination of commercially available air conditioning, military activity, and economic prosperity transformed the city.

A Closer Look

As befits a map distributed by a moving company, Phoenix's street network appears in detail, with nearly all the streets labeled. Schools, hospitals, parks, airports, and even the state fairgrounds are identified. The Phoenix Mountains occupy the upper right. The 'Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad' and the 'Southern Pacific Railroad' both appear, with Union Station named. An alphabetic street index occupies the right border.

Historical Context

In 1949, Phoenix, Arizona, was evolving from a small, agriculture-based town into a burgeoning metropolitan area. Post-World War II economic prosperity and the advent of air conditioning technology significantly spurred Phoenix's growth, making the hot desert climate manageable and even attractive. The city's population boomed, leading widespread urbanization. Phoenix's economy during this time was diversifying, gradually moving away from its agricultural roots to include manufacturing, retail, and a growing service sector. The city also became a hub for military activity, with several bases and training facilities being established, reflecting the ongoing Cold War tensions.

Publication History and Census

This map was created and published by McGrew Commercial Printery and distributed 'Compliments of Lightning Moving and Warehouse Company' in 1949. We note five examples of the 1949 edition cataloged in OCLC which are part of the collections at Yale University, the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, the Arizona Historical Society Southern Arizona Division, Arizona State University, and the Phoenix Public Library. We also note editions cataloged in OCLC from 1947, 1954, and 1959.