1973 Map of Caprock

About this map

The high plains of eastern New Mexico's Caprock Ranch define this landscape as it appeared in the early 1970s. This survey records a transition from the level terrain of the high mesa to the escarpment and breaks below, a region where large-scale cattle ranching and modern resource extraction converge. The terrain is marked by a network of fence lines and windmills essential for livestock management in a semi-arid environment, contrasted with the industrial footprint of the Mescalero Oil Field. The map meticulously plots drill holes, gravel pits, and pipeline corridors that trace the mid-century development of Lea County’s energy infrastructure alongside traditional ranching operations.