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1964 Map of Cerro Del Oro

Name: 1964 Topographic Map of Cerro Del Oro
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1967
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1967

About this map

Cerro del Oro rises as the central landmark of this high-desert region, overlooking a landscape defined by an intricate network of water-management features essential for ranching in the mid-1960s. The map illustrates a reliance on numerous tanks and springs to support life in the arid environment of New Mexico. Named sites like the Seis-Wilson Ranch and Orchard Place represent the established cattle-raising operations of the era, while topographic features such as Gun Mesa and Arroyo Blanco provide natural boundaries for these lands.

Evidence of the local economy and family ties is visible in labels like Cañon Villa de Aseyna and the Bill Aseyna Tank, suggesting a heritage of land use and water rights. The presence of specialized infrastructure, including the Axtell Windmill and Lonely Windmill, highlights the engineering required to tap into subsurface resources. This survey serves as a detailed record of how human settlement and livestock management adapted to the New Mexico plateau before further modernization.