1962 Map of Eightmile Draw

About this map

The Pecos River carves a winding path through the Chaves County landscape, anchoring a region defined by extensive ranching and water management in the early 1960s. Family-held operations like the Neal Ranch, Sturgeon Ranch, and John White Ranch are distributed across the arid terrain, highlighting the importance of groundwater sources such as the Adair Well and Potter Well. The southern portion of the map is dominated by the northern reaches of the Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge, where the river's influence creates a distinct wetland habitat contrasting with the surrounding dry draws. Significant topographical features include the rising elevation of Railroad Mountain and the seasonal drainage patterns of Eightmile Draw and Sand Creek. This survey captures the rural infrastructure of the era, from scattered Oil Wells to the network of pipelines crossing the open range.