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1963 Map of Costilla

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Costilla
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1967
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1967

About this map

Costilla serves as the focal point for this 1963 survey, situated where the high desert meets the towering slopes of the Sangre De Cristo range. The settlement’s agricultural foundations are clearly visible through an intricate network of irrigation systems, including the Acequia Madre, Cerro Canal, and the Cordillera Ditch. These waterways, drawing from Costilla Creek, define the land use patterns along the border between Colorado and New Mexico.

Farther south, the landscape shifts toward the isolated Urraca Ranch and the deep cuts of Jaroso Canyon and Cedro Canyon. The mapping of several Gravel Pits and various Gaging Stations along the watercourses reflects a mid-century focus on resource management and hydrological monitoring. This survey provides a precise look at the rural infrastructure of Taos County before significant modern development altered the traditional acequia-based settlement layout.