1959 Map of Alamo Mountain

About this map

The Cornudas Mountains define the arid landscape of this borderland survey, where the high desert of Otero County, New Mexico, meets Hudspeth County, Texas. Life in this environment at mid-century centered on isolated livestock operations and water management, evidenced by the numerous tanks scattered across the terrain, such as Potter Tank, Brownfield Tank, and Hackberry Tank. Large family holdings like Wimberly Ranch, Bennett Ranch, and Cornudas Ranch suggest a ranching economy reliant on wide grazing ranges and the precious flow from Alamo Spring. To the south, the peaks of Alamo Mountain, Wind Mountain, and Chatfield Mountain rise sharply from the basin floor. An Airstrip and several Oil Wells indicate the intrusion of modern industry and transportation into this remote corner of the Southwest, while drainage patterns like Shiloh Draw and Hackberry Draw trace the path of seasonal water across the high plains.