1963 Map of Gage NW

About this map

The Continental Divide cuts a diagonal path across this high desert landscape, marking the hydrological split in the southwestern corner of New Mexico. In the early 1960s, this area of Luna and Grant counties was defined by the industrial presence of the Southern Pacific railroad, which parallels a major two-lane road. The small siding at Wilna serves as a central landmark for a region primarily used for ranching and resource extraction, as evidenced by numerous Borrow Pits and gravel operations. Sparse settlement is limited to remote outposts like Tilch Ranch, Baker Ranch, and Parker Ranch. The terrain rises sharply to the east at the Victorio Mtns, with Gage Mtn 5114 standing as a prominent local peak. Water management is critical in this arid environment, traced through a network of windmills and named catchments such as Briar Hill Tank and Pipeline Tank.