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1954 Map of Carlsbad

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Carlsbad
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1976
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1976

About this map

Carlsbad and the surrounding high desert of southeastern New Mexico are documented here during a period of significant military and agricultural transition. The Pecos River serves as the lifeblood of the region, feeding major reservoirs like Lake McMillan and Lake Avalon, which supported the irrigation districts near Artesia and Loving. To the west, the massive MC Gregor Range Expansion and Fort Bliss occupy the Tularosa Valley, illustrating the Cold War-era expansion of military testing grounds.

The map traces the Atchison Topeka And Santa Fe railroad through established settlements and smaller locales such as Seven Rivers and Lakewood. From the depths of Carlsbad Caverns National Park to the heights of the Sacramento Mountains and Guadalupe Mountains, the topography captures the diverse landscape of Lincoln National Forest. Notable landmarks like Wind Mountain and the McMillan Escarpment define the horizon between the river valley and the open ranch lands.