1952 Map of Belen SW

About this map

Belen Grant lands dominate the eastern portion of this high-desert landscape in Socorro and Valencia counties. The terrain is defined by a series of dramatic westward-sloping drainage patterns, including Pedro Draw, Arroyo Comanche, and Alamito Arroyo, all feeding toward the southern reaches of the Rio Puerco. In the center of the sheet, the expansive Montano Flats provide a rare stretch of level ground between the winding draws. Mapping at the start of the 1950s shows the area's arid character, punctuated by scattered Windmills and isolated Wells, which mark the vital infrastructure required for ranching in this dry country. The New Mexico Principal Meridian cuts a precise north-south line through the eastern sections, serving as the foundational reference point for the region's entire land surveying system.