1954 Map of Clifton

About this map

Clifton serves as a primary hub in this mid-century survey of the high desert and mountain country straddling the Arizona and New Mexico border. The landscape is defined by the massive escarpment of the Mogollon Rim and the Mogollon Mountains, with the Continental Divide winding through the eastern portion of the sheet. Settlements like San Francisco Plaza, Alma, and Glenwood are linked by the winding courses of the San Francisco River and the Gila River. This era shows a region dominated by vast federal lands, including the Apache National Forest and the Gila Wilderness Area, where the rugged terrain transitions from the high San Agustin Plains to the deep river canyons. The presence of Fort Thomas and various mines near the Southern Pacific railroad line indicates the historical importance of both military outposts and mineral extraction to the local economy.