1957 Map of Clifton

About this map

Industrial and copper-mining hubs like Morenci, Plantsite, and Clifton anchor the southern portion of this high-altitude landscape, where the San Francisco River meets the Gila River. In the mid-1950s, this area of the Southwest remained dominated by federal and tribal lands, including the Gila National Forest, Apache National Forest, and the San Carlos Indian Reservation. The geography is defined by significant vertical relief, ranging from the high peaks of the White Mountains and Mogollon Rim down to the arid basins of the Plains of Saint Augustine. Transport in the era relied on the winding Coronado Trail and the Southern Pacific railroad, which followed the river valleys to service the remote settlements and ranching outposts like Reserve and Glenwood near the Arizona and New Mexico border.