1963 Map of Gobernador

About this map

Carson National Forest spans this high-desert landscape in Rio Arriba County, where the topography is defined by deep incisions like Vaqueros Canyon and La Jara Canyon. By the early 1960s, the region was heavily focused on resource extraction, as evidenced by the dense network of Gas Wells and connecting Pipelines that traverse the mesas. Historical settlement patterns are preserved at the Gobernador (Site), which includes a nearby Cem and sits at the junction of Frances Creek. The map documents a landscape of vital water sources in an arid environment, from the Trujillo Reservoir to numerous named seeps such as Amarante Spring and Skousen Spring. High terrain features like Mestenas Mesa and Laguna Seca Mesa dominate the central and southern portions of the sheet, providing a clear view of the ranching and energy infrastructure that shaped this part of New Mexico.