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1953 Map of Espanola

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Espanola
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

Santa Clara Pueblo and the surrounding ancestral lands define this mid-century landscape along the Rio Grande. The map documents a complex system of land grants and reservations, including the San Ildefonso Indian Reservation and the Pojoaque Pueblo Grant, illustrating how historical land tenure shaped Northern New Mexico's development. Settlement patterns are concentrated in the fertile valleys of the Santa Cruz River and Pojoaque River, where small communities like Jacona and Santo Niño sit in proximity to ancient archaeological sites.

Industrial activity is evident through a Pumice Mine (Aband) and several Gravel Pits, while the presence of an Old Railroad Grade and a Jeep Trail suggests a shifting transportation network. To the west, the inclusion of Bandelier National Monument highlights the preservation of significant cultural landmarks such as the Tsankawi Ruins and various Cliff Dwellings situated among the mesas and deep canyons like Guaje Canyon and Los Alamos Canyon.