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1939 Map of Carlsbad

Name: 1939 Topographic Map of Carlsbad
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

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.

Rural life is marked by numerous family-named landmarks and small agrarian hubs such as Otis, Loving, and the Forehand Ranch. The presence of an (Abandoned Canal) and several dry draws like Cass Draw and Indian Draw illustrate the constant struggle and engineering required to sustain agriculture and industry in Eddy County. This survey captures the transition of the Pecos Valley into a coordinated agricultural and potash mining center before mid-century expansion.