1957 Map of Chromo

About this map

The Navajo River and Rio Blanco carve through this high-altitude landscape along the border of Colorado and New Mexico in the mid-1950s. The small settlements of Chromo and Edith serve as the primary human outposts in an area dominated by the San Juan National Forest and complex land divisions, including the Tierra Amarilla Grant Boundary. Resource extraction is evident through the presence of an Artesian Well and an Oil Well near the riverbanks. High-country landmarks such as Squaretop Guard Station and Chromo Mtn overlook a network of alpine waters including Buckles Lake, Harris Lake, and Spring Creek Lakes. The map reveals a transition from the rugged canyons of the north to the broader mesas like Mesa Tierra Amarilla and Archuleta Mesa in the south, reflecting the area's diverse topographical character during this era of post-war mapping.