1960 Map of Duncan

About this map

The Gila River valley near the Arizona and New Mexico border defines this mid-century landscape, where agriculture depends on an intricate system of irrigation. Water from the river is diverted into the Valley Canal, Sunset Canal, and Model Canal, supporting the settlements of Duncan and Franklin in Arizona, and Virden just across the state line. Industrial and transportation hubs are centered around the Southern Pacific Railroad corridor, which includes a substation, gravel pit, and a Cotton Gin at the northern edge of the valley. To the west, the terrain rises sharply into the Whitlock Mountains, dominated by Whitlock Peak. This area is marked by numerous canyons such as Woods Canyon and Gillespie Canyon, and dotted with remote cattle operations including Cox Ranch, Rainville Ranch, and Day Ranch.