Loading map...

1986 Map of Duncan

Name: 1986 Topographic Map of Duncan
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1987
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1987

About this map

The Gila River valley serves as the central corridor for agriculture and transportation along the Arizona-New Mexico border in the mid-1980s. The settlement of Duncan acts as a local hub, featuring a Fairground, multiple Athletic Fields, and a Cotton Gin that points to the region's agricultural economy. This irrigation-dependent landscape is defined by an intricate system of waterways, including the Valley Canal, Sunset Canal, and Model Canal, which divert water to the fields of Hunter Flat and the surrounding basin.

Transportation infrastructure follows the river's path, with the Southern Pacific Railroad and regional roads connecting Duncan to Franklin and Virden. The terrain shifts dramatically from the flat river valley to the rising elevations of Pearson Mesa and various drainages like Blackfield Canyon and Carlisle Canyon. Local genealogy is anchored by the Cem located south of Duncan, while the landscape remains marked by the functional needs of the era, from a highway Rest Area to active Gravel Pit sites.