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1894 Map of Corazon

Name: 1894 Topographic Map of Corazon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1932
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1932

About this map

Las Colonias and other early Hispanic settlements anchor the canyon floors and riverbanks of this territory within San Miguel county. Surveyed just before the turn of the century, the map reveals a landscape defined by seasonal water sources and the strategic placement of villages like Chaperito and La Cueva along the Gallinas River. The terrain is characterized by a series of massive mesas, including Carro Mesa and Mesa Montosa, which separate the river valleys and influence the erratic paths of the Salitre Arroyo and Conchas River.

Life in this region during the 1890s centered on these permanent water points, with Gallinas Spring, Concha Spring, and Cabra Spring serving as vital landmarks in an otherwise arid expanse. The survey captures the transition from the high mesa country at Yegua Mesa down to the broken ground near Esteros, providing a clear view of the complex topography that dictated the survival of small communities such as Torres and Aguila.