1961 Map of Carson

About this map

Carson National Forest dominates this high-altitude landscape where the sagebrush plains drop precipitously into the Rio Grande Gorge. The map captures a transition in early 1960s New Mexico, documenting small rural outposts like the Carson PO and the settlement of Pilar along the river banks. Water management in this arid environment is clearly legible through named infrastructure like Mondragon Tank, Clarkson Tank, and Barnett Well, which supported local ranching and early habitation. Along the southeastern edge, the deep incision of the Rio Grande del Norte is buffered by the Rio Grande State Park. The complex drainage network, including the Arroyo de la Petaca and Agua Caliente Canyon, defines the sharp topography of the region as it descends from the plateau toward the river bottom.