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1985 Map of Carbon Springs

Name: 1985 Topographic Map of Carbon Springs
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

Cibola National Forest land dominates the western half of this Socorro County survey, where the arid landscape is defined by a complex drainage system flowing toward the northeast. The ephemeral Rio Salado cuts through the northern portion of the map, while numerous canyons including Baca Canyon, Cañon del Tanque, and Cañon de las Cabras carve through the high ground. These topographic features reflect a classic New Mexico landscape where water management and natural springs were vital for any activity.

Carbon Springs and Bear Springs are central to the terrain, providing essential water sources in an otherwise dry environment. The presence of a Radio Tower on a prominent ridge indicates the mid-1980s infrastructure development in this sparsely settled region. The map also delineates the New Mexico Base Line, a critical surveying marker for state land management, showing the intersection of local geography with official western expansion mapping.