1892 Map of Chaco

About this map

The San Juan River and its major tributaries, the Animas River and La Plata River, dictate the settlement patterns of the Four Corners region in the late nineteenth century. Small riverfront hubs like Farmington, Aztec, and Jewett appear at the intersections of these vital watercourses, while the high desert plains to the south remain dominated by the broad, ephemeral drainage of the Chaco River. The northwestern corner is defined by the Navajo Indian Res. Line, showing the early administrative divisions between tribal lands and the developing Rio Arriba territory. Significant natural landmarks such as Beautiful Mountain and the Chusca Mts rise in the west, while isolated water sources like Sulphur Spring, Sheep Spring, and the Seven Lakes provided critical stops for travelers and livestock in an otherwise arid landscape.