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1959 Map of Alamo Mountain

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Alamo Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1978
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1978

About this map

Cornudas Mountains dominate this arid landscape on the border of New Mexico and Texas, characterized by prominent peaks and a complex network of water catchments. The terrain is anchored by substantial elevations like Alamo Mountain, Cornudas Mountain, and Wind Mountain, which rise sharply from the desert floor. This area, spanning the Otero and Hudspeth County line, reveals a remote ranching economy dependent on an extensive system of tanks and windmills.

Named features such as Wimberly Ranch, Hat Ranch, and Cornudas Ranch illustrate the dispersed nature of human settlement in this high-desert environment. The reliance on water infrastructure is evident in the numerous labels for tanks, including Potter Tank, Grief Tank, and Two-High Tank, alongside isolated Oil Wells and a lonely Airstrip. Significant natural drainages like Shiloh Draw and Hackberry Draw further define the topography, showing how the landscape's natural features dictated the placement of early 20th-century ranching outposts.