1978 Map of Grants

About this map

The high desert landscape of Mount Taylor and the Cibola National Forest dominates this topographic study of West-Central New Mexico. The corridor following the Rio San Jose and Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe RR serves as the primary artery for settlement and industry, connecting Grants and Milan to a string of communities including San Fidel, New Laguna, and Mesita. This era of the late 1970s shows the significant industrial footprint of the Jackpile Mine on the Laguna Indian Reservation, a major uranium operation of its day. The map captures a complex patchwork of land ownership and jurisdictional boundaries, including the Acoma Indian Reservation and Canoncito Navajo Indian Reservation. Numerous smaller settlements like Acomita West Village, Seama, and Philadelphia are documented alongside natural landmarks such as Lobo Hill and Horace Mesa.