1971 Map of Alvin NW

About this map

The rolling sand-hill landscape of the Colorado plains is meticulously documented in this 1971 survey of the borderlands between Phillips Co and Yuma Co. The terrain is defined by a rhythmic series of northwest-to-southeast ridges, where the only prominent landmark in the southern reaches is Vogus. This area illustrates the mid-century expansion of energy infrastructure into remote agricultural regions, most notably marked by the long Pipeline that cuts across the southwestern sections of the map. The distribution of numerous water Wells throughout the dunes indicates the intensive subterranean water management required to sustain life and ranching in this arid environment, revealing a hidden network of utility beneath the surface of the dry prairie.