1985 Map of Buckeye

About this map

Mescalero Ridge, also known locally as The Caprock, creates a dramatic elevation change in this part of Lea County, separating the high mesa from the lower Querecho Plains. The landscape is dominated by the extensive infrastructure of a vast Oil Field, which is marked by a dense network of roads and numerous well sites. The small settlement of Buckeye serves as a focal point for the region's industrial activity, supported by a large Aqueduct and a Pumping Sta that provide essential water and utility transport through the arid terrain. This 1985 provisional map reflects the intensive land use required for energy extraction, showing how petroleum development has reshaped the natural environment of southeast New Mexico.