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1950 Map of Dexter West

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Dexter West
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1977
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1977

About this map

Arid grazing lands and agricultural developments define this portion of Chaves County, centered around the western outskirts of Dexter. The landscape is etched by seasonal watercourses such as Thirteenmile Draw and Zubi Draw, which historically dictated the placement of early ranching outposts. Family-held properties including the Williams Ranch, Lowe Ranch, and Kerr Bros South Ranch dominate the geography, illustrating the transition from open range to established livestock operations.

Industrial and hydraulic infrastructure marks the more settled eastern edge, where the Hagerman Canal and the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad corridor facilitate local commerce. Specialized agricultural sites like the Boales Cotton Gin and the Twin Wells Stock Pens provide evidence of the regional cotton and cattle economy. Numerous groundwater sources, such as the Greenfield Artesian Recorder Well and Vinyard Well, highlight the critical importance of water management in this New Mexico desert environment.