1957 Map of Box Canyon Ranch

About this map

Box Canyon Ranch and Cass Ranch stand as isolated outposts in this high-desert ranching landscape of southeast New Mexico, as surveyed in the late 1950s. The terrain is defined by a dense network of arid drainage systems, notably the branching paths of North Prong Long Draw and South Prong Long Draw. The southern portion of the map is dominated by the steep, dramatic topography of Box Canyon and Little Box Canyon, where contour lines tighten to illustrate the significant relief of the rimrock. Signs of mid-century industrial activity are sparse but present, marked by an Oil Well and the South Well, indicating early petroleum exploration or water management for livestock. The prevalence of evocative place names like Strychnine Draw, Cat Claw Draw, and Dagger Draw reflects the harsh, scrub-filled environment faced by early settlers and ranchers in Eddy County.