1996 Map of Afton

About this map

The Malpais dominates the western landscape of this Chihuahuan Desert region, where volcanic basalt flows meet the arid plains of southern New Mexico. The small settlement of Afton serves as a waypoint along the Southern Pacific railroad, which cuts a sharp diagonal line across the terrain. This desert corridor is defined by its water-scarce infrastructure, evidenced by scattered outposts like Norwood Well, Well, and Tank that supported the cattle and rail operations of the era. To the east, the New Mexico Principal Meridian serves as a critical surveying baseline, while the prominent volcanic cinder cone of Little Black Mountain rises from the basin floor. The map also captures the industrial footprint of the late twentieth century with the inclusion of major Pipelines traversing the northern and southern sectors, connecting the energy resources of the greater Southwest.