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1955 Map of Artesia NE

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Artesia NE
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1972
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1972

About this map

The Lake Arthur settlement anchors the northwestern corner of this mid-century survey, situated along the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad line. This corridor follows the western bank of the Pecos River, which snakes through the center of the landscape, creating a distinct boundary between the river valley and the rising terrain of Buffalo Valley to the east. The river's influence on the local infrastructure is evident in the network of irrigation features, including a prominent Ditch and several reservoirs that supported agricultural efforts in this arid region.

Industrial development is marked by a significant Pipeline cutting diagonally across the southeastern townships, accompanied by an Oil Well and Oil Tank. The topography transitions from the alluvial plains of Walnut Creek and Cottonwood Creek to the more dramatic elevations near Dog Canyon in the south. These features illustrate the mid-20th-century balance between the traditional rail-and-river economy and the expanding energy infrastructure of the Pecos Valley.