1962 Map of Dunken

About this map

Dunken anchors this 1962 landscape in Chaves County, where the high desert is defined by a network of seasonal watercourses and established cattle operations. The drainages of Rio Felix, Little Rio Felix, and the Rio Peñasco carve through the terrain, creating a series of named canyons like Thimble Canyon and Big Ox Yoke Canyon that dictate the region's layout. This era of ranching history is preserved through numerous family-named properties such as Marvin Ranch, Runyan Ranch, and the Peñasco River Ranch, each reliant on vital water sources like Alamo Well and the Dunken Windmill. The presence of the Old Featherham Place suggests an earlier layer of settlement in this arid environment. Transportation is primarily dictated by the topography, with routes like Cherry Canyon Road following the natural contours of the land between high points like Meadow Hill and the seasonal Singer Lake.