1968 Map of Candy Mesa

About this map

Gerhardt Valley and the surrounding high plains of East-Central New Mexico are defined here by dramatic escarpments and isolated ranching outposts in the late 1960s. The landscape is characterized by the stark transition from the floor of the valley up the steep, multi-contoured slopes of Charlotte Point and the expansive Taiban Mesa. This period of land use is marked by scattered improvements such as the Knighten Ranch and M and M Ranch, which represent the enduring cattle-ranching heritage of the Quay and De Baca county border region. Seasonal drainage is evident through Truchas Creek and Red Tank Creek, while the presence of Gravel Pits and a solitary Drill Hole point to the area's mineral and water exploration efforts on the edge of Candy Mesa.