1985 Map of Carlsbad East

About this map

Carlsbad and its northern neighbors, La Huerta and Hagerman Heights, occupy the western banks of the Pecos River in this mid-1980s record of New Mexico's high desert. The landscape is defined by the complex water infrastructure necessary for arid-land agriculture and industry, featuring the massive Lake Avalon reservoir, the East Canal, and an elevated Aqueduct. The eastern half of the map reveals the extensive Carlsbad Oil Field, where numerous drills and service roads crisscross the terrain near Telltale Bluffs. Transport and industry are central to the area's development, evidenced by the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad line and a local refinery. From the residential streets of San Jose to the industrial activity of the oil fields, the map captures a pivotal period of resource extraction and community growth.