1966 Map of Columbus NE

About this map

Seventysix Draw winds through this arid corner of Luna County, where the survival of cattle and livestock depended entirely on the strategic placement of wells and water catchments. The landscape is defined by the practical infrastructure of ranching during the mid-1960s, featuring numerous labeled Well sites and isolated water sources like Oney Tank and Buena Vista Tank. A network of unimproved dirt roads and a singular Jeep Trail provide the only access through this desert terrain, connecting the open range to vital landmarks like the Coyote Windmill and Lucky Windmill. This map reveals a specific reliance on groundwater management in the high desert, where ephemeral features such as Dry Lake contrast with the permanent utility of the scattered windmills and tanks.