1918 Map of Cienega Springs

About this map

Animas Valley dominates the central landscape of this borderlands survey, serving as a wide basin between high mountain ranges. In the west, the Peloncillo Mts and Guadalupe Mts form a jagged boundary, while the Animas Mountains and San Luis Mts rise to the east. This 1917–1918 fieldwork by A. L. Ackers and other topographers details a sparsely settled ranching frontier along the international boundary between the United States and Mexico. Human presence is concentrated around water sources and small outposts like Cloverdale, Bramlett, and Lang Ranch. Critical landmarks for desert navigation are carefully noted, including Fitzpatricks Well, Birch Springs, and the namesake Cienega Springs. The map illustrates the strategic importance of mountain crossings such as San Luis Pass and Guadalupe Pass, which provided essential routes through the surrounding Coronado National Forest.