1986 Map of Duncan

About this map

The Gila River valley near the Arizona-New Mexico border defines this mid-1980s landscape, where irrigation networks and transportation corridors converge. The Duncan townsite is the primary hub, supported by the Southern Pacific Railroad and a local economy evidenced by a Cotton Gin and several gravel pits. To the southeast, the small settlements of Franklin and Virden lie amidst a complex system of water management, including the Sunset Canal, New Model Canal, and Valley Canal. The terrain transitions from the low-lying river flats to the high ground of Pearson Mesa, with numerous canyons like Blackfield Canyon and Carlisle Canyon cutting through the arid landscape. This mapping captures the region's agricultural infrastructure and social centers, such as the Fairground and multiple Athletic Fields, just years before major shifts in western rail operations.