1954 Map of Bernalillo

About this map

The Rio Grande and Jemez River define the intricate boundary-work of this mid-century landscape, where massive historic land grants intersect with the valley's ancient agricultural infrastructure. This 1954 survey captures a moment when traditional water systems like the Bernalillo Acequia and Albuquerque Main Canal supported the communities of Bernalillo and Corrales. The map meticulously details the ancestral lands of the Santa Ana Pueblo Grant, Zia Pueblo Grant, and Sandia Pueblo Grant, showing the interplay of native settlements and mission-led education at sites like the Our Lady of Sorrows Sch and the Pilgrim Indian Mission Sch. Beyond the river valley, the terrain transitions to high mesas and arroyos, such as Arroyo de los Montoyas, marked by the industrial footprints of an Inactive Strip Mine and the engineering of the Jemez Canyon Dam.