Willcox, Arizona

This Highway Art celebrates the home of the "Wings Over Willcox" festival held every January to celebrate birding and the winter home of some 20,000 to 30,000 Sandhill Cranes who nest in the area. About 3700 humans live here.

During an all day photo tour guided by two expert photographers, associated with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, 302 images were shot and will necessitate some backblipping.

Originally known as 'Maley,' the town was founded in 1880 as a whistlestop on the Southern Pacific Railroad. It was renamed in honor of a visit by General Orlando B. Willcox in 1889. In the early 20th century, Willcox had the distinction of being a national leader in cattle production. Agriculture remains important to the local economy, but Interstate 10 has replaced the railroad as the major transportation link, and much of the economy is now tied to Interstate 10, which runs immediately north of the town.

My impression is that Willcox is a modern ghost town. Before construction of the Interstate a main highway ran through the city. The main street is now almost desolate as most of the business has moved near to the Interstate, in the north of town. Sadly, it shows how times change over the years.