1957 Map of Bluewater

About this map

Anaconda Bluewater Mill stands as a focal point of industrial activity in this high-desert landscape during the late 1950s, located just south of the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad line. The map documents a complex infrastructure of pipelines, a conveyor, and a large Tailings Pond serving the milling operations. The settlement of Bluewater and its nearby Bluewater Siding are positioned along the fertile strip near Bluewater Creek, contrasted sharply by the surrounding geological formations. To the east and north, the terrain is dominated by The Malpais and extensive Lava flows, leading up to significant elevations like Haystack Mountain and Mesa Montañosa. A network of irrigation features, including the Main Ditch and Middle Ditch, reveals the community's reliance on water management for agriculture and industry in an arid environment.