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1981 Map of Carrizozo

Name: 1981 Topographic Map of Carrizozo
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

The high-desert terrain of central New Mexico is defined by the stark contrast between the volcanic flows of the Malpais and the rising peaks of the Sacramento Mountains. At the western edge, the Valley of Fires State Park marks a dramatic geological boundary near the town of Carrizozo. The settlement pattern here follows the elevation, with historic mining sites like Jicarilla and the American Mine situated among the northern foothills, while the town of White Oaks sits as a reminder of the region's late-nineteenth-century mineral boom.

Logistics and transport are anchored by the Southern Pacific railroad line, which skirts the mountains while connecting northern outposts like Ancho to the population centers. The eastern half of the map is dominated by the sprawling Lincoln National Forest, covering the high ridges of the Capitan Mountains and reaching down toward Arabela. This landscape shows a clear division between the open cattle-range arroyos, such as Macho Arroyo, and the protected alpine environments of the White Mountain Wilderness.