1961 Map of Carson

About this map

Carson PO and the surrounding high desert terrain define this high-altitude landscape in Northern New Mexico during the early 1960s. Much of the western portion of the sheet is comprised of the Carson National Forest, while the eastern edge is dominated by the deep cut of the Rio Grande del Rio Grande. This area showcases a delicate water management system essential for ranching and settlement, evidenced by family-named water features like Mondragon Tank, Clarkson Tank, and Barnett Well. The landscape is a network of dry washes and seasonal flows, including Ashbury Arroyo, Scott Arroyo, and the significant drainage of Arroyo Aguaje de la Petaca. Near the southern confluence, the village of Pilar sits at the base of steep canyon walls where Agua Caliente and Rito Piedra Lumbre meet the main river. These features highlight the importance of river access in an otherwise arid and dissected environment.