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1941 Map of Aden

Name: 1941 Topographic Map of Aden
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1984
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1984

About this map

The Southern Pacific R R cuts a diagonal path through this arid basin of Doña Ana County, anchoring the small settlements of Aden and Kenzin during the early 1940s. The landscape is defined by volcanic features and high-desert flats, most notably the Aden Crater and the eastern fringes of the West Potrillo Mountains. The map reveals a remote ranching and industrial presence, evidenced by the Strauss Ranch Headquarters and the Brass Ranch, alongside a scattered network of water infrastructure like Aden Wells and Johns Tank that supported the local economy.

Industrial sites and family-named mills, including Briggs Mill, X X Mill, and Junes Mill, suggest a history of resource extraction or processing along the rail line. To the southeast, the curiosity named Smugglers Hideaway lies tucked near the mountain foothills, while White Flat spans the open ground between the tracks and the peaks. This survey by M. C. McClellan and J. M. Stricklin provides a precise look at the New Mexico desert before modern expansion, when water sources and rail access were the primary drivers of settlement.