1939 Map of Carlsbad

About this map

The Pecos River carves a vital path through this arid Chihuahuan Desert landscape, anchoring the development of Carlsbad and the surrounding irrigation districts. In the late 1930s, the region’s complex water management system is on full display, from the northern Lake Avalon and Carlsbad National Wildlife Refuge down to the Harroun Dam. The map documents the industrial footprint of the era, specifically the U S Potash Co Refinery and several refineries linked by the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad line.