Duncan is in Eastern Arizona . It is in Greenlee County. The Gila River flows along the east side of town. The town is located near U.S. Highway 191 and State Highway 75. Duncan is just a few miles from the New Mexico border, 166 miles northeast of Tucson and 204 miles southeast of Phoenix.

Overview:
Duncan has many natural resources such as copper, zinc and contains the largest fire-agate field in the nation. Today Duncan has a population of 500. The town sits at an elevation of 3,535 feet. The climate is mild all year round with a winter low temperature of 31 degrees and a summer high temperature of 100 degrees.

Community Features:
One important attraction that you won’t want to skip is the Greenlee County Historical Museum, which is located at the west end of Chase Creek in Clifton. The museum is packed full of interesting memorabilia from the surrounding area. Visitors will discover Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Apache warrior Geronimo and Ted De Grazia were all born nearby. The museum has artifacts that make the west come alive. It is a stop worth taking.

There are a couple of outdoor activities nearby. The Coronado Trail Scenic Byway travels between the towns of Morenci and Springerville, along U.S. Highway 180 or 191. Francisco Vasques de Coronado first used the trail in 1540, during his search for the Seven Cities of Cibola. The drive passes by gorgeous landscapes and through dangerous switchbacks. The Black Hills Rockhounding Area is north of Duncan off of U.S. Highway 191. The road off the highway is not regularly maintained. Therefore, visitors should come prepared. Many rockhounds have found fire agates in this area. It is an adventure.

History:

The land in and around where Duncan is today was originally called Purdy. As the town grew, it became a marketing center for farming and shipping point for cattle and ore. The town was a rail stop, along the Arizona and New Mexico Railroad. In the 1880’s, the town’s name was changed to Duncan.

There are a variety of opinions as to how the town’s name originated. One story says it was named after James Duncan, who was the director of the Arizona Copper Company. The other story refers to Duncan Smith, who owned the property on which the rail stop was located.
During Duncan’s early years, it was known as a “tough town.” The town was always protecting itself from attacking Apaches and notorious outlaws. It was believed that “Black Jack” Ketchem and his gang used Duncan as a stopover. “Black Jack” and his gang were known stagecoach robbers.

In 1880, Henry Clay Day homesteaded a piece of land just a few miles from Duncan. He named his ranch “The Lazy B.” Henry eventually turned the ranch over to his son Harry. Harry married Ada Mae Wilkey and they had three children, Sandra, Ann and Alan. Sandra went to college, became a lawyer in Phoenix and held the position of Arizona Senate Majority Leader. Sandra Day O’Connor went on to become the first woman appointed to the United States Supreme Court. The Lazy B Ranch is also known for having the largest fire-agate field in the nation.
The town of Duncan was incorporated in 1938.