1954 Map of Benavidez Ranch

About this map

Rio Puerco carves a deep meandering path through this mid-century New Mexico landscape, serving as a vital landmark between the Laguna Indian Reservation and the extensive Town of Atrisco Grant. The map highlights the intersection of traditional land grants and modern wildlife management, specifically featuring the State Game and Fish Commission Bird Shelter near the eastern boundary. Settlement is sparse, represented by established outposts like Benavidez Ranch and the nearby Rio Puerco Ranch, which are connected by a network of unimproved roads and a Jeep Trail. The terrain is also defined by administrative and indigenous boundaries, including a corner of the Canoncito Navajo Indian Reservation and the New Mexico Principal Meridian, illustrating the complex layering of federal, state, and tribal lands in Bernalillo County during the early 1950s.