1968 Map of Blue Hole

About this map

Canadian River waters wind through the northern reaches of this high plains landscape, where the survival of cattle and kin in the late 1960s depended heavily on a network of isolated windmills and tanks. The terrain is defined by the deep incisions of Arroyo Rana and its canyons, leading toward the distinctively named Blue Hole in the east. Settlement is sparse, represented by the Collins Ranch and a small Cem that speaks to the genealogy of early ranching families in Quay County. The map documents an era of wide-open ranching infrastructure, capturing numerous named landmarks like Johnson Windmill, Lackey Windmill, and Mesquital Tank. These features illustrate how water management dictated the footprint of human activity across this portion of the Llano Estacado, providing a detailed record of land use and family holdings during the mid-twentieth century.