1953 Map of Canjilon

About this map

Canjilon and the neighboring settlement of Groesbeck sit at the northern edge of this high-elevation landscape, where the Canjilon Creek valley cuts through the surrounding mesas. The map reveals a cluster of small communities and family-named landmarks, such as Placitas and Llanito de la Cruz, tucked into the drainages of the Carson National Forest. For genealogists, the presence of the Cedar Grove Cemetery and Canjilon Cemetery provides specific locations for tracing local family histories in this part of Rio Arriba County. The terrain is defined by massive landforms like Mesa del Medio and Mesa Juan Domingo, separated by deep canyons such as Montoya Canyon and Navajo Canyon. The southern portion of the sheet is largely dominated by the Juan Jose Lobato Grant Boundary, reflecting the complex historical land grant divisions common in this region of New Mexico.