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2011 Map of Encinoso

Name: 2011 Topographic Map of Encinoso
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2011
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2011

About this map

Encinoso stands as the primary settlement in this high-altitude landscape of Lincoln County, where the transition from open range to the steep slopes of West Mountain is defined by a network of ranching estates. The map documents long-established landholdings such as Block Ranch, Koprian Ranch, and Merchant Ranch, reflecting a legacy of large-scale cattle operations in central New Mexico. Water remains the critical factor for these high-desert settlements, indicated by the importance of Macho Spring and Gum Spring along the intermittent drainage of Carrizo Creek.

Resource extraction history is evidenced by the Capitan Uranium Company Claims, situated south of the main village. The terrain is deeply incised by numerous canyons, including Koprian Canyon and Shoemaker Canyon, which break the plateau north of Minckey Ridge. This 2011 survey captures the rural character of the region, where County Roads like County Rd-B002 and County Rd-B053 provide the only access to the remote Sportsmans Lodge and interior canyon reaches.