1961 Map of Black Hill

About this map

W Coupland Ranch and G Coupland Ranch anchor this high-desert region of Socorro County, showing the scattered ranching infrastructure of the mid-20th century. The landscape is defined by its drainage systems, most notably the wide cut of Nogal Canyon and the surrounding network of Lumbre Canyon, Silver Canyon, and Chaunte Canyon. These deep natural features dictated the placement of essential water resources, represented by isolated landmarks like Wallace Tank, Scott Tank, and the CCC Tank, which points to earlier land management efforts by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Above the canyons, prominent elevations like Black Hill and Bottle Hill serve as navigational markers, while a remote Landing Strip near the northern boundary highlights the reliance on air travel for accessing this interior reach of New Mexico.