1965 Map of Bisbee Hills

About this map

Burdick Hills and the lower Bisbee Hills dominate this high-desert landscape in Luna County, characterized by a complex network of seasonal drainage patterns and sparse ranching infrastructure. Mapping during the mid-1960s recorded a topography shaped by water management, notably the Miller Gibson Detention Dam No 1 and Miller Gibson Detention Dam No 2, which appear as critical infrastructure in an otherwise arid environment. Ranching operations are the primary markers of human presence, including the Stringer Ranch and Miller Ranch, supported by a series of isolated water sources such as the Porcher Windmill and Seventysix Well. These features, along with the Cassell Cem, provide a glimpse into the family-held lands and livestock economy that defined this region of New Mexico. The terrain is further defined by deep erosional cuts like Seventysix Draw and Bisbee Draw, which channel the infrequent but intense rainfall through the rocky outcrops.