Loading map...

1959 Map of Gould Pass

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Gould Pass
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1959
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1959

About this map

The high plateau and canyon country of the San Juan Basin is meticulously documented in the late 1950s, revealing a landscape defined by sharp elevation changes and seasonal drainages. The rugged Manzanares Mesa dominates the northern reaches, while the terrain is deeply dissected by a network of arroyos including Gobernador Canyon and Carrizo Creek. Small, isolated settlements like Medina and Jaques are situated near the mouths of these canyons, indicating a pattern of dispersed ranching and localized habitation dependent on the intermittent water sources found in this arid environment.

Local landmarks such as Gould Pass and Hollis Pass mark critical transit points through the mesas. The infrastructure of the era is represented by ranching outposts like Kaime Ranch and various gas wells scattered across the basins. This survey captures the region just as energy exploration began to leave a permanent mark on the remote corners of New Mexico, with Largo Canyon serving as a primary corridor through the complex topography.