1936 Map of Arabela

About this map

Arabela sits at the foot of the eastern Capitan Mountains during the mid-1930s, serving as a focal point for a landscape defined by ranching and high-altitude forest. The settlement pattern is dominated by named family holdings, including the Latham Ranch, Brills Ranch, and Owens Ranch, scattered across the high desert and mountain slopes. This 1935-36 survey by the United States Department of the Interior details the complex network of drainage systems like Seco Arroyo and Agua Chiquita Creek that were vital for sustaining these remote operations.