1943 Map of Desert

About this map

The Southern Pacific railroad line anchors this 1941 survey, cutting a straight diagonal through the arid landscape of the Tularosa Basin towards the Otero and El Paso county line. Small railway stops and ranching outposts like Desert and Alvarado serve as lonely markers of human presence in a territory dominated by water management features. The reliance on artificial water sources is evident through a network of catchments and wells, including Chaparral Tank, Alvarado Tank No. 1, and South Well. To the south, family-held land is represented by the McCracken Ranch and Davis Ranch, the latter situated near the prominent Davis Dome. This map captures the region's ranching and rail infrastructure just before mid-century changes, documenting localized landmarks such as Three Buttes and the Hot Well near the Texas state boundary.