1973 Map of Custer Mountain

About this map

Custer Mountain and the distinctive topographic rise of Old Baldy anchor this section of Lea County, New Mexico, during a period of significant energy infrastructure development in the early 1970s. The landscape is defined by the Monument Jal Oil Field, where numerous Oil Wells, Gas Wells, and Drill Holes are connected by a network of pipelines. Water management in this arid environment is evident through a series of livestock and domestic infrastructure including Sewell Tank, Old Lake, and several named windmills such as West Dublin Windmill, Humphreys Windmill, and Coats Windmill. Cattle ranching remains a primary land use alongside the oil industry, with the Whitten Ranch and Dinwiddie Ranch appearing as key localized hubs. The terrain is further etched by drainage patterns like Antelope Draw and the evocatively named Fight in Hollow Draw.