1963 Map of Anderson Peak

About this map

Anderson Peak rises as the central landmark of this high-altitude landscape in Catron County, New Mexico. The 1963 field survey documents a remote ranching territory defined by its essential water infrastructure rather than permanent settlements. A network of unimproved dirt roads and light-duty tracks connects a series of family-named water sources, including Boaz Well, Carter Well, and the McClute Well. These features, along with Five Troughs Well, illustrate the critical importance of groundwater management for livestock in the arid Southwest during the mid-20th century. To the east, the terrain shifts near Snake Hill, where the map identifies the Rock House Well. The distribution of these named points and the carefully mapped fence lines offer a detailed look at mid-century land use and property boundaries in a region where the natural topography dictated the pace of development.