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1963 Map of Colonias

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Colonias
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

The Pecos River carves a deep, winding path through this portion of Guadalupe County, defining the agricultural and ranching landscape of the early 1960s. Along the river valley, small traditional settlements like Colonias, Casas del Medio, and El Cerrito represent historic centers of local life, while the upland areas are dominated by large land grants including the Preston Beck and Anton Chico grants.

Evidence of established family ranching is visible through named properties such as the P Ulibarri Ranch and Manuel Ulibarri Ranch. The terrain is characterized by dramatic elevation shifts from the Mesa del Medio to the river floor, punctuated by various water catchments and ephemeral lakes such as Laguna del Arabe and Laguna Seca. A single Pipeline cuts across the northern reaches, marking one of the few modern industrial imprints on this otherwise rural landscape.