1954 Map of Chilili

About this map

Chilili Grant lands define this territory on the eastern slopes of the Manzano Mountains during the mid-1950s. The settlement pattern is characterized by scattered family homesteads and ranches, many established along the deep drainage of the Canon de Chilili. The village of Chilili and nearby Old Chilili serve as the primary anchors for a landscape where water is the most precious resource, evidenced by the numerous Windmill sites and Cibola Springs dotting the terrain. Numerous family names are preserved on the land, including the Danvik Place, Ballinger Ranch, and Thompson Place. The map captures the transition between Bernalillo Co and Torrance Co, showing a network of unimproved roads and trails connecting these remote outposts across the high arroyos and canyons like Canon de Sayuna.