1965 Map of Fort Sumner West

About this map

Fort Sumner sits at the eastern edge of this landscape, where the Pecos River valley meets the high plains of De Baca County. This mid-1960s survey captures a transition between traditional ranching and modern infrastructure, dominated by the long diagonal sweep of the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad. The vital nature of water in this semi-arid environment is evidenced by the density of named water features, including the Main Canal feeding into Trujillo Creek and a network of family-named windmills. Scattered agricultural outposts like Steele Ranch, Vaughn Ranch, and McCollum Ranch anchor the rural territory, while landmarks such as the Water Tank and several gravel pits mark the industrial activity along the rail line. Individual sites like Goldberg Windmill and Jensen Well provide precise location data for those researching local family history or land use.