The most recent population for Lordsburg is 2,582. The population peaked at 4,712. That is a significant drop-nearly 50%. However, at least from an economic standpoint, it looks like the population loss has been more than that. In some aspects, Interstate 10 killed Lordsburg. In other aspects, Interstate 10 in saving Lordsburg. Let me explain. Before Interstate 10 was built through the area, U.S. Highway 80 was the principal highway through the area. This highway, while not as famous as U.S. Highway 66, a.k.a. "The Main Street of America," was still famous in its own right. route 80 was frequently called "The Broadway of America" and once ran from Tybee Island, Georgia to San Diego, California. Unlike route 66, however, U.S. highway 80 is not completely dead or decertified. It still exists in its eastern portion. It still begins in Tybee Island, Georgia, but now it ends in Dallas, Texas. Everything west of Dallas has been decertified. In places it is still a federal highway, such as Interstate 10 Business Loop through a number of towns. In other places it is now a city street or a county road. In other places it is a state highway. An example of this is in the El Paso, Texas area where Route 80 is now State Highway 20 and west of Lordsburg, where the old highway splits off of Interstate 10 and runs southwest to Douglas, Arizona and then back northwest to Benson, Arizona. It is known as State Highway 80 in both states. In still other places, old highway 80 is completely and utterly abandoned, in varying states of disrepair. There are also some places where the former "Broadway of America" is completely buried underneath Interstate 10 or even Interstate 20 farther east.
Lordsburg was situated at the junction on U.S. Highway and U.S. Highway 70. These 2 highways, along with the railroad and the town's relative isolation made Lordsburg boom. In fact, the railroad gave birth to Lordsburg in 1881 when a second transcontinental route was being pushed westward across the southern United States. Lolrdsburg is even named for a railroad engineer, Delbert Lord. some sources say the town was named for a New Yorker named Charles Lord, but I believe that is very unlikely. The town and railroad have been intertwined since day one.
Robert,
ReplyDeleteActually, during most of its life, US 80 was a much better known highway that Route 66. In the 20s, 30s, and 40s, US 80 carried more traffic into southern California than Route 66 or other highways such as US 60 and 70. There were also songs about US 80, mostly Delta Blues songs... very cool. Also, I drove all of US 80 from San Diego to Savannah and Tybee Island in 2008, and I am happy tell you that most of the highway is drivable. Only in a few spots do you need to resort to driving on the Superslab. Check out my photo galleries, virtual road trips, and US 80 info at americanroads.us .