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1963 Map of Colonias

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Colonias
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

The Pecos River carves a deep valley through the high desert of Guadalupe County, serving as the primary geographic anchor for small agricultural settlements and ranching operations. Along its winding banks, the established community of Colonias and the smaller clusters of Casas Del Medio and El Cerrito reflect the traditional settlement patterns of central New Mexico. The landscape is dominated by the intersecting boundaries of the Anton Chico Grant and the Preston Beck Grant, legacy land divisions that dictate the local topography of mesas and cañons.

Away from the river, the terrain transitions into a series of scattered seasonal water sources and ranch holdings. Landowners such as the Ulibarri family maintain several sites across the plains, including the Manuel Ulibarri Ranch and Margarito Ulibarri Ranch. Notable natural landmarks like the Mesita Cortada and numerous small lagunas, such as Laguna Del Arabe and Laguna Seca, provide critical landmarks in a region defined by its mesa-and-draw relief.