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1948 Map of Carthage

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Carthage
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1954
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1954

About this map

Carthage and the neighboring settlement of Tokay define this high-desert landscape in the years following World War II. The area serves as a focal point for resource extraction, evidenced by the Hart Coal Mine and Gilmore Coal Mine located near the base of Cerro Colorado. This industrial activity is contrasted by an expansive network of family ranching operations spread across the arid plains, including the Muncy Ranch and Jones Ranch.

A significant portion of the southern terrain is occupied by the White Sands Proving Ground and the Alamogordo Bombing Range, reflecting the region's critical role in mid-century military research. Technical sites such as the California Institute of Technology station are situated near Sand Mountain, while essential water sources like Prairie Spring and Kinney Wells highlight the constant search for sustenance in this challenging environment.