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1965 Map of Cornucopia Canyon

Name: 1965 Topographic Map of Cornucopia Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

The boundary between Otero Co and Chaves Co cuts across this high-desert landscape, where ranching life in the mid-1960s relied heavily on a complex network of man-made catchments. Cattle operations are the primary human footprint here, anchored by established sites like Coupland Ranch, Gage Ranch, and Merritt Ranch. To sustain livestock in this arid environment, the terrain is dotted with numerous water tanks named for local families or locations, including Alva Smith Tanks, Ogg Tank, and John Gentry Tank.

The topography is dominated by the Collins Hills and the prominent Dry Peak, with drainage systems like Piñon Creek and Cornucopia Canyon carving through the limestone. This survey also documents small landmarks of rural infrastructure, such as the Radio Tower and the station at Gage. The winding paths of Little Collins Draw and Stevens Draw illustrate the natural flow of water toward the larger basins to the east.