Interesting information and background about the great State of Arizona and the forming of the "base line" and "principal meridian".....the foundation for Arizona surveys.

Background:  The rectangular survey system, which was first proposed by Thomas Jefferson and enacted into law by the Land Ordinance of 1785, forms the backbone of the Nation's land surveys.  The first step in implementing a survey system in a given area is the establishment of an initial point.

This point is the basis for all government surveys in the area it controls, and its latitude and longitude are fixed by astronomical observations.  From this initial point, a Principal Meridian runs north and south on a line that would intersect the poles, and a Base Line is run east and west on a parallel of latitude.  In Arizona, the point in which east-west "baseline" and a north south "meridian" intersect is Arizona's initial point and that point is where the Gila and Salt Rivers meet.  This initial point - where surveys for the state first began is named Monument Hill.

Historical Significance:  In 1851, Monument Hill was  built by the U.S. Boundary Commission, while making a reconnaissance survey for the United States-Mexico boundary under the 1848, Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo,  In 1865, John A. Clark, Surveyor General for New Mexico and Arizona selected Monument Hill as the initial point for surveys in Arizona.

The first survey from the initial point was a survey of the base line to the east, which began January 19, 1867, by William H. Pierce, Deputy Surveyor.  With a crew of seven men he surveyed 36 miles east in five days.  He was using a Burt's Solar Compass to determine direction and a chain 33 feet long made up of 50 links, each 7.92 inches long to measure the distance.

In the last 141 years some 62 million acres of land have been surveyed from this point.  Nearly all of the unsurveyed land lies within Military Reservations, National Parks and Forest, and Indian Reservations.

Benefits:  Designating Monument Hill as a National Heritage Area has ecological, cultural, social and historical benefits.  Preserving the integrity of the natural landscape and local stories means that future generations will be able to understand their relationship with the land.  The area would provide educational and inspirational opportunities which encourage residents and visitors to recreate in a place that offers habitat conservation and preserves long-standing traditions.

Location:  Monument Hill (initial point) is located in Avondale Arizona's Planning Area, Arizona Maricopa County:  Avondale Boulevard (Principal Meridian) and Baseline Road (Base Line).

Partners:  The City of Avondale is working to assemble government and private sector partners of this historic point in an effort to work together seek the NHA designation.  Partners include:  Arizona Professional Land Surveyors, Maricopa County, Phoenix International Raceway, the Gila River Indian Community, the Salt River Project, the State of Arizona Land Department, the Arizona Centennial Committee and the Arizona State Office, and the Bureau of Land Management.

Courtesy of The City of Avondale, Arizona  www.avondale.org