1943 Map of Clayton Basin

About this map

The Potash Co of America Mine anchors the western edge of this landscape, reflecting the burgeoning industrial development of the Permian Basin in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Situated on the border of Eddy and Lea Counties, the terrain transitions from the high Querecho Plains into the depression of the Clayton Basin, a region defined by its critical water sources and rugged relief. Isolated outposts like Lusk Ranch and Wood Ranch provide evidence of the area's cattle ranching heritage, while the presence of the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad line highlights the vital transportation corridors required for mineral extraction. Natural features such as the Maroon Cliffs and the wide alkaline expanse of Laguna Plata emphasize a landscape where geography dictated both settlement patterns and industrial potential during this era of New Mexico's growth.