1950 Map of Dexter East

About this map

The Pecos River floodplain dominates this landscape at mid-century, where a complex network of man-made ditches and reservoirs supports agricultural life in Chaves County. Near the town of Dexter, the Dexter Federal Fish Hatchery represents a significant investment in regional conservation and industry, utilizing the area's groundwater resources. The town itself serves as a hub for the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad, which parallels the main highway and links the smaller community of Greenfield to the broader regional economy. Recreational and ranching interests are evident at Lake Van, home to the Lake Van Rod & Gun Club, and the outlying Calumet Ranch. A notable infrastructure detail is the Durand Reservoir (Abandoned) to the north, suggesting changing water management priorities as the Rio Felix flows into the Pecos at the southern edge of the survey.