1951 Map of Hagerman

About this map

Hagerman and Lake Arthur anchor this Pecos Valley landscape, revealing an intricate network of desert irrigation and rail-dependent agriculture in the mid-20th century. The Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad serves as the primary spine of the region, connecting local agricultural infrastructure like the Stock Pens and Buffalo Valley Farm to wider markets. Water management is the defining characteristic of the terrain, visible through the meandering Pecos River and its tributaries like Rio Felix. A patchwork of ditches and reservoirs, including Lake Tolliver, Prichard Lake, and Buffalo Lake, sustain the valley floor, while numerous scattered Windmill sites indicate the reliance on groundwater for both livestock and homesteads. The inclusion of a Landing Strip and the Ball Park in Hagerman reflects the community development and modernization occurring between the original 1951 survey and subsequent photorevisions.