Loading map...

1966 Map of Cherokee Valley

Name: 1966 Topographic Map of Cherokee Valley
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1969
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1969

About this map

Cherokee Valley defines this arid landscape in eastern New Mexico, where the 1960s cattle ranching economy relied heavily on a network of isolated wells and windmills. The map reveals the critical importance of water rights and management in this high-plains environment, dominated by named livestock operations such as Kaufman Ranch and Burks Ranch.

Genealogists and local historians can trace the human footprint through the Cherokee Valley Cemetery and landmarks like Graveyard Well. The terrain transitions from the seasonal drainage of Minneosa Creek and its North Fork in the north to shifting Sand Dunes in the southeast. This survey, based on 1965 aerial photography, provides a detailed look at the ranching infrastructure of Quay County, including features like the Vandergrift Tank and Red Windmill.