1954 Map of Fort Sumner

About this map

Pecos River ranching and the arrival of major rail lines define this mid-century view of East-Central New Mexico. The map centers on the historical junction at Vaughn, where the Southern Pacific and Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroads intersect, facilitating the movement of livestock and goods across the high plains. In the eastern portion, the town of Fort Sumner serves as a local hub near the site of Billy the Kids Grave, a landmark of the era's frontier history. To the northwest, the settlement of Santa Rosa and the old village of Puerto de Luna mark the upper reaches of the river valley. The landscape is characterized by prominent mesas and draws, such as Duran Mesa and Rattlesnake Draw, alongside a network of U.S. highways including U.S. 60 and U.S. 54 that connected these scattered cattle-country outposts.