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1973 Map of Culp Ranch

Name: 1973 Topographic Map of Culp Ranch
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

Culp Ranch serves as a primary human anchor in this high desert landscape of Chaves County, where water management defines every mile of the survey. The terrain is characterized by the presence of Shifting Sand, a dynamic environmental feature that underscores the arid conditions of the region. To support livestock and limited habitation, a network of infrastructure is visible, including named water sources like Adams Tank and multiple instances of a Water Tank scattered across the land.

Energy and ranching history are intertwined here, as seen in the various Drill Hole locations and family-named landmarks such as Backus Windmill and the Lone Wolf Windmills. Access through this territory relies heavily on a sparse network of Jeep Trails, which provide the only connection between these remote ranching outposts and the open desert. The map captures a moment in the 1970s when the survival of these rural holdings depended entirely on the management of subsurface resources and seasonal rainfall.