1978 Map of Flying M Ranch

About this map

Flying M Ranch sits at the heart of this high plains landscape during a period of significant petroleum development in Lea and Chaves counties. The map captures a transition where traditional ranching infrastructure, such as the Mill on the Fence and various water sources like Carroll Well and Hood Well, coexists with a growing industrial network. The area is defined by massive petroleum tracts, including the Tobac Oil Field and Flying M South Oil Field, which are marked by numerous oil wells, drill holes, and a Pumping Sta. The presence of these extraction sites alongside family-named landmarks and essential water tanks like East Tank illustrates the dual economy of the Permian Basin in the late twentieth century, where energy production moved into the remote range lands of eastern New Mexico.