1954 Map of Fort Sumner

About this map

The high plains and mesas of east-central New Mexico are defined by the vital waters of the Pecos River and the industrial backbone of the Southern Pacific and Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroads. During the mid-twentieth century, this region served as a critical transportation corridor where major routes like U.S. 60 and U.S. 54 intersect at the rail hub of Vaughn. The map captures a landscape of cattle ranching and scattered settlements, from the riverside center of Fort Sumner to the western slopes of the Gallinas Mountains within the Cibola National Forest. To the north, the Guadalupe Mine indicates the mineral interests of the era, while the Alamogordo Reservoir represents the essential water management of the semi-arid basin. High mesas such as Conejos Mesa and Duran Mesa dominate the topography between the deep cuts of Pintada Canyon and Canyon Blanco.