1954 Map of Bernalillo

About this map

The Rio Grande valley north of Albuquerque is defined here by an intricate network of irrigation and ancient land grants. In the mid-1950s, the landscape around Bernalillo is a complex system of acequias and canals, including the Albuquerque Acequia and the Bernalillo Main Canal, which supported the agricultural life of the valley. This survey captures the historical depth of the region, from the Coronado State Monument Kuaua Ruins to the overlapping boundaries of the Felipe Gutierres or Bernalillo Grant and the Sandia Pueblo Grant. The infrastructure of the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad and U.S. 85 run parallel to the river, threading through established communities like El Llanito and Ranchito. Religious and educational landmarks, such as the Pilgrim Indian Mission Sch, highlight the cultural intersections within this Sandoval County corridor.